Wildfire rages in Zhoda. RM of Stuartburn reeve Jim Swidersky lost everything except his truck and the clothes on his back.

By Marianne Curtis
Several communities were on alert
April 29, when several wild fires,
pushed by heavy winds, threatened
several communities including Carrick,
St. Labre, and Badger.
In Zhoda, RM of Stuartburn Jim Swidersky reeve lost everything he owned,
except his truck and the clothes he was
wearing. He says he was about to leave
for the Jets game when he noticed the
colour of the sky.
“I kept trying to water down the roof

and then my garage (caught fire). Then
my hydro line fell off and I lost water pressure and the battle was done,”
Swidersky told media. “Within 20
minutes, I had lost everything.”
According to RM of La Broquerie
Fire Chief, the department was called
to a wildfire south of Zhoda at about
4:30 pm. The fire destroyed one home,
and threatened several others after it
jumped Highway 12.
The first fire broke out along Fire
Guard 14 east of Carrick Sunday night

Submitted photo

and strong winds combined with dry
conditions pushed the fire towards
Badger. Monday morning crews were
still battling blazes close to the community.
Gary Friesen, Manitoba Sustainable
Developments says while the cause is
not known, the fire did originate near
a railway line.
All burn permits have been cancelled
for eastern and central Manitoba and
will not be lifted until conditions improve.

May 2018

Municipal Act to Be
Strengthened to
Protect Elected Officials
Almost a year after bullying allegations surfaced in
the RM of Ritchot, which led to the resignation of the
former mayor and several councillors, the province
has committed to reviewing the Municipality Act to
identify opportunities to strengthen protections for
municipal officials.
According to Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton, “Elected officials are expected to govern in the
best interests of their communities, and the province
wants all employees have a right to a respectful workplace,” said Wharton. “The province will review The
Municipal Act and other relevant legislation to identify opportunities to strengthen municipalities’ ability
to enforce violations of their codes of conduct.”
Any potential amendments would require careful
consideration and would be developed in consultation with municipalities and other stakeholders, he
added. Under The Municipal Act, all municipalities
are required to adopt a code of conduct that establishes guidelines on acceptable behaviour for council
members in dealing with each other, employees and
citizens.
AMM President Chris Goertzen said everyone deserves a safe and respectful work environment including municipal elected officials. “We look forward
to working with the minister to determine ways to
strengthen not only the legislation around harassment
and bullying in municipal workplaces, but our ability
to enforce the rules,” stated Goertzen.
Wharton noted that the majority of councils strive to
carry out their responsibilities and exercise their authority in accordance with good governance practices
and their code of conduct, however, violations continue to be an issue and enforcement of violations is a
challenge for many councils.
The province will be consulting with both the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and the Manitoba
Municipal Administrators Association through a series
of roundtable discussions across the province in June
and September where input will be gathered on potential legislative changes. The matter will be discussed
in the RM of Stuartburn at the Vita Hall at the June
District meetings on June 22.
The Manitoba government has already taken steps
to reduce workplace harassment by instituting a ‘no
wrong door’ approach back in February so that government of Manitoba employees can bring forward
complaints without fear of reprisal by providing additional reporting avenues.

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Rail Safety Awareness Week Bill Passes Second Reading
Earlier this month, Dawson Trail
MLA Bob Lagassé, was successful
in gaining second reading support
of a private member’s bill, called the
Rail Safety Awareness Week Act.
Bill 221 proposes to establish an annual Rail Safety Awareness Week in
the second week of September.
Lagassé believes that educating the
public is an effective way of reducing railway-related accidents. “During the awareness week, the Manitoba government would encourage
citizens, employers and schools to
cooperate with rail companies to implement educational programming
on railway safety,” said Lagassé.
“These programs would focus on
spotting and avoiding the dangers

associated with rail traffic, especially when it intersects with roads and
walkways.”
Canada already has an annual Rail
Safety Week in September, but, if approved, Bill 221 would make Manitoba the first province to put Rail
Safety Awareness Week into law.
“Though railways fall under Federal
jurisdiction, the province can use
educational programs in an effort to
reduce injuries and deaths through
heightened awareness,” he added.
Randy Brown, the father of 11year-old daughter Kharma Annette Brown was in the audience as
Lagassé spoke in the Legislature.
The young girl was killed by a train
in Ste. Anne while using a crosswalk

and was struck and killed by a train
in the Ste. Anne area in September
2017. “As a father, I am deeply saddened by the tragedy and my heart
aches for those who loved her,”
added Lagassé. “Those of us with
the power to act, to improve things,
have a responsibility to do so. I have
put this bill forward to prevent such
accidents from happening in the future.”
In 2017, there were 222 railway
incidents across Canada, including
72 fatalities and 44 serious injuries.
In Manitoba alone last year, there
were 19 railway incidents resulting
in three deaths and five serious injuries.
Now that Bill 221 has gained sec-

The family of Kharma Brown was in the Legislature gallery when Dawson Trail MLA Bob Lagassé’s Rail Safety Week in September, otherwise known as Bill 221 gained second reading.

ond reading, it goes to the committee to the bill can be proposed at this
stage for detailed consideration on a stage. If the bill is amended, it is reclause by clause basis. Amendments printed prior to third reading.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

May 2018

Otterburne’s Providence College
Holds Four Graduate Ceremonies

During April, Providence University College & Theological Seminary graduated 175 students in four different ceremonies.

Over the course of five days, Providence University College & Theological Seminary in Otterburne presented 175 Doctoral, Master’s and
Bachelor’s Degrees, Graduate and
Undergraduate Certificates and Diplomas.
Graduation week began April 18,
with 11 graduates completing the
Mile Two Discipleship School. Then
on April 20, forty-three students received TTESOL Certificates during
a morning ceremony. The TESOL
International Association, formerly

Teachers of English to Speakers of
Other Languages, is the largest professional organization for teachers
of English as a second or foreign
language. It was noted that many of
these graduates were unable to attend
the function as they were already
working in the field.
On April 21, 41 students graduated
with Master of Arts degrees; thirtytwo were in Master of Arts in Counselling or Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, and two grads
received their Doctor of Ministry

designations.
Ceremonies were completed April
22, with 49 graduating from Providence University College with a
Bachelor’s degree, six of which were
Bachelor of Business Administration
degrees, obtained through the Providence-based Buller School of Business.
Highlights of the prestigious
event were 9 Finland and 1 Greenland-based student obtaining their
Diplomas in Biblical Counselling
through a Providence program of-

ATV Trails Open to High Fire Hazard Conditions
The fire risk is high throughout
the region, and the Woodridge ATV
Sandhogs are reminding riders to
use caution when using the trails
this spring.
As per a notice posted on the groups
Facebook page, the Woodridge ATV

Sand Hog executive warned riders to
use caution when using back country
trails. It was posted on April 25, after a fire condition changed quickly
and helicopters were seen in the area
monitoring the situation.
“Please be careful in the back
country folks, it is
very dry out there,”
stated the notice and
advising riders that
updates would be
posted as the fire ratings change. Riders
are reminded that a
Very High fire rating
is level 4 out of 5.
After level 5 the bush
trails are shut down.
Riders were also
reminded to use
caution when using
trails that cross over
fire guard roads in
the area because they
are being used as a
logging truck routes.
The risk of fire is high, according to the sign outside the March- “Please take note of
and Ranger station on April 25.

these as a fully loaded rig cannot
stop that fast!” stated the notice.
Fire bans have been implemented across southern Manitoba,
including the
RM’s of Ritchot, Tache,
Hanover, Ste.
Anne, Tache,
Hanover, St
Anne, La Broquerie, Stuartburn, Reynolds, Piney
and EmersonFranklin.
Residents
and visitors
are reminded
to check local municipal
websites for
further details
on how the
ban
affects
back-yard fire
pits.

Photo courtesy of Providence College.

fered in Finland.
An honorary Doctorate was
presented to Rev. Dr. Samson
Hkalam. He is the top administrator of a 400,000-member
Christian denomination in northeast Myanmar, recognized with
an honorary Doctor of Divinity.

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Constitutional
Crises in the
Making, Perhaps
Oil pipelines and carbon taxes along with political differences are
creating upheaval in a number of provincial legislatures. The results
of these political tussles between some of the provinces and the Federal Government could destroy Canada as an entity as we know it if
the provinces are not kept in check.
The very fabric which is Canada is at stake. Matters which are
mobility of people and mobility of goods which cross provincial
boundaries cannot be at the mercy of provincial whims. Matters
such as carbon tax should be set within national parameters. This is
what Canada is all about. If we left it to the provinces the country
wouldn’t last a week. Nevertheless off to the courts it is for a couple of Premiers. Motives are political ego and ideological politics
awash in plenty of rhetoric.
The Premier of Saskatchewan wants immunity from carbon tax
and the Feds have an agreement with the world to reduce carbon
presumably for the survival of mankind. Who is going to win? Regardless of which side anyone of us are on can anyone see a consensus by the provinces if we leave it to them?
The Premier of BC doesn’t want pipelines which are interprovincial. Would this not be equivalent to cutting off railways and roads
at their border? It is obvious that this is not going to happen. So why
don’t we ship oil by rail or truck? The answer is pipelines are more
efficient. The oil being transported to Asia will replace coal and possibly nuclear energy if their own countries are earthquake prone.
The bottom line is whether or not we ship the oil; it will not stop
its usage until something better is invented. All goods in the world
that are transported by truck need fuel, electrical for a short run is
possible if you can plug it in, but regardless on a long run where
the battery sizes could potentially be half the weight allowed on our
highways, carbon efficiencies would amount to nothing. This puts a
crimp in long haul transportation if we are to discount diesel fuel.
The court will do the right think but delays could be crucial. This
political kerfuffle makes us look like dummies on the international
scene. Leave this to the provinces, they have had more than 100
years to establish free trade amongst themselves, and we haven’t
yet met one enlightened Premier. But how many have we met with
an inflated ego?
Bottom line is we have oil and we can be part of today’s reality and
that it is still very much in need; our responsibility is to be greener
at it.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Justin Trudeau’s Very Bad Week
Kinder-Morgan Pipeline & Canada Summer Jobs:
It’s been another bad week for Justin Trudeau. He continues to fail at securing an agreement between the Alberta and BC Governments over the building of a controversial oil pipeline.
This past week he also failed to convince Kinder-Morgan (the company
building the pipeline) that their investment in Canada was secure which resulted in the company pulling their funding from the project. The loss of
this project will cost Canadians $80 billion and more than one hundred thousand jobs. Despite these failures, Mr.
Trudeau declared “this pipeline will be built.” Unfortunately he left off the end of that sentence: with your tax dollars.
Then it was discovered that the Liberals had given Canada Summer Jobs grants to an environmentalist group
called Dogwood BC. The job posting was for an assistant to “help our organizing network stop the Kinder Morgan
pipeline and tanker project.” When asked why the Federal Government was funding a group that was actively
working, not only against the national interest, but against his own government’s policy Mr. Trudeau replied: “We
believe in free speech and we believe in advocacy on this side of the House.” Mr. Trudeau went on to state “We will
not remove funding from advocacy organizations because we as a government happen to disagree with them.”
Really? That’s exactly what the Liberals have been doing for months to faith-based organizations. Some 1,500
faith-based charities have been rejected for Canada Summer Job Funding because they could not in good conscience sign an attestation forcing them to agree with Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party values. Not only does this show
how little the Liberals care about getting this vital pipeline built, it is also further proof of their utter hypocrisy.
Illegal Border Crossings
It’s official. After more than a year of verbal gymnastics, Justin Trudeau has finally admitted that crossing the
border illegally is indeed illegal.
Last week I stood up in the House of Commons and asked the Prime Minister the following question: “Mr.
Speaker, the Prime Minister misled many would be migrants to illegally cross the border. In response to a problem
of his own making, the Prime Minister is throwing Canadian tax dollars at a problem with no concrete plan. And
yesterday the Prime Minister refused to even commit to a plan. Can the Prime Minister tell this House: Does he
believe it is wrong to illegally cross the border and jump the queue?”
The Prime Minister responded: “Mr. Speaker not only have I answered that question today, I’ve answered it many
times over the past months: Crossing a border between official border crossings is illegal.”
That came as news to everyone since the Prime Minister has stubbornly refused to call illegal border crossings
illegal since the crisis started, referring to them instead as “irregular”.
We are more than a year into this crisis - with some 20,000 illegal migrants already here, overloading our immigration, social and education services - and the Prime Minister finally took step one – admitting that it is illegal.
Step two would be to admit that the illegal entries are actually a problem. Step three would be to come up with a
plan to solve the problem.
Step one and two should have been done within days, and Conservatives have been asking the Liberal Government to come up with a plan ever since this crisis began. But at the speed with which he is dealing with this issue,
it could be years before we make any headway whatsoever.
For more information on this or any issue please feel free to contact my office toll free at 1-866-333-1933 or at
204-326-9889. Visit me on Facebook at: Facebook.com/TedFalkMP. You may also write my office at 76 PTH 12N,
Steinbach MB, R5G 1T4 or visit my website at tedfalk.ca.

Provincial Government Seeks
Your Ideas for Economic Growth
Mother Nature seems to be holding spring back this year. We have not been
blessed with a lot of double-digit temperatures or precipitation in April. The
lack of rain has led to some extremely dry areas in our province. Because of these dry conditions, municipalities
have issued burning bans. I ask everyone to respect these bans. It does not take much for a fire to get out of control
and when it does, it can cause severe and extensive damage in a short time. Having been a volunteer firefighter for
many years, I’ve seen what a fire can do. Please think before you strike that match.
Hopefully the beginning of May will change this, and give us the moisture and temperatures we need to make
everyone happy. I know that many farmers are just itching to get their equipment onto the fields and their crops
into the ground. I wish all farmers a great crop in 2018. Farming plays an important role in Manitoba’s economy.
When Manitoba’s farmers have a good year, Manitoba has a good year.
Speaking of the economy, under the leadership of Dave Angus, former CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, and Barb Gamey, founder and CEO of Payworks, our government has partnered with local chambers of
commerce and has held meetings in Brandon, Winnipeg and Thompson with stakeholder groups to guide the
development of a new provincial economic growth strategy. Additional meetings and roundtable discussions will
be held throughout the province in the weeks ahead.
Our Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Blaine Pedersen, has stated that the province wants to ensure
the economic growth strategy meets the needs of Manitobans and our economy. The views of business, industry,
economic development agencies, stakeholders and Indigenous businesses and organizations will be essential in
developing this strategy.
This process is for all Manitobans. I encourage all of you to visit our website at gov.mb.ca/egs/and submit your
ideas.
After completing these consultations, our Manitoba government will work with key economic development
organizations to shape a further strategic direction.
Finally, I wish our Winnipeg Jets all the best in the remaining NHL playoff rounds in their quest to win the
Stanley Cup and bring it home to Manitoba. Go Jets go!
As always, I look forward to hearing from you with your questions or concerns. I can be reached at my constituency office at 204-424-5406, at my legislature office at 204-945-4339 or at dennis.smook@leg.gov.mb.ca.

The RM of Hanover is one of three municipalities in the province to be recognized with a Manitoba Community Emergency Preparedness Award in 2018.
According to Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler, the award recognizes communities with programs meeting or exceeding recognized national and international standards for emergency preparedness.
“While emergency preparedness is the responsibility of individual
citizens, the private sector and all levels of government, municipalities form the foundation of effective emergency management,”
stated Schuler. “These recipients have shown excellence in developing and maintaining their programs. They have accomplished
this through effective hazard and risk assessment, preparation,
maintenance, exercising of their emergency plans, and public engagement.”
The emergency management teams in these municipalities, directed and supported by their elected leaders, set a high standard
in reducing the risk of disaster impacts on their communities. They

accomplished this through effective hazard and risk assessment, preparation, maintenance, exercising of their emergency plans, and public engagement.
RM of Hanover Reeve Stan Toews credits the municipality’s emergency measures officer Denis Vassart for being meticulous about his job as being. “Dennis Vassart is
a very dedicated Emergency Coordinator,” praised Toews.
“He keeps meticulous records and keeps committees up to
date.” Holding mock disasters to practice the plan is also
part of their preparedness plans success.
Awards were also presented to the RMs of Cartier, and
Louise. The Southern Emergency Response Committee consisting of the RM of Stanley and the cities of Morden and
Winkler, was also recognized.
The award is presented annually and includes public recognition by the Manitoba government, a framed certificate
and road signs stating, ‘We are a Prepared Community’, to
be placed at the municipality’s discretion.

Legislating Rail Safety Awareness Week
On April 20, I had the opportunity to speak in the Legislature about two more
Dawson Trail heroes, Kaelie Spokes and Sarah Voth. Both students, who are in
kindergarten and Grade 5 respectively, have been nominated by their teachers for
Seine River School Division Student Citizenship Awards in their age groups.
The Seine River School Division recognizes the importance of affirming young
leaders, and these two students are being recognized as exemplary in exhibiting
kindness and a willingness to volunteer in the classroom. Kaelie’s welcoming
nature and willingness to help others, regardless of ability, is commendable for her age. And Sarah’s reputation for
volunteering, going on mission trips and playing sports has made her a standout nominee. Both will continue to do
wonderful things in any community they are a part of; Dawson Trail is lucky to have them in ours!
I also had the opportunity in April to see my private member’s bill, the Rail Safety Awareness Week Act, pass in
the Legislative Assembly on second reading and at the committee stage, and move on to an upcoming third and final
reading. Bill 221 proposes to establish an annual Rail Safety Awareness Week in the second week of September.
Educating the public is an effective way of reducing railway-related accidents. During this Awareness Week, the
Manitoba government would encourage citizens, employers and schools to co-operate with rail companies to implement educational programming on railway safety. These programs would focus on spotting and avoiding the dangers
associated with rail traffic, especially when it intersects with roads and walkways.
Canada has an annual Rail Safety Week in September, but Bill 221 would go further in making Manitoba the first
province to put Rail Safety Awareness Week into law.
In 2017, there were 222 railway incidents across Canada, including 72 fatalities and 44 serious injuries. In Manitoba alone last year, there were 19 railway incidents resulting in three deaths and five serious injuries.
Here in the Dawson Trail constituency, there was a railway-related tragedy last September. As a father, I am deeply
saddened by it. Those of us with the power to act, to improve things, have a responsibility to do so. I have put this
bill forward to prevent such accidents from happening in the future.
Stay up to date by following me on Facebook. If you have questions or comments, I can be reached at 204-8074663 or by e-mail at bob.lagasse@leg.gov.mb.ca.

May 2018

LaB CDC to
Host AGM
The La Broquerie Community Development
Corporation (CDC) invites the public to attend
its Annual General meeting on Monday, May
14, starting at 6:30pm. It will be held at the RM
of La Broquerie Council Chambers, 123 Simard
Street.
For more information contact the projects officer for a copy of the proposed agenda, the 2016
AGM minutes and the 2017 annual activities’
report, email sdclabroquerie@gmail.com or call
204-371-0379. Beverages and a snack will be
provided.

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Lorette Home Hardware
Awarded for Retail Excellence
By Marianne Curtis
The owners of Lorette Home
Hardware were thrilled and
humbled to receive the Home
Hardware Proud of My Home
Award in the category of Best
Home Hardware Store Under
6,000 Sq. Ft.
On April 14, David and Jessica Audette were honoured to
be one of 7 stores recognized
within the award categories
from among the close to 1,100
stores across Canada. The award
was presented to the couple during Home Hardware’s annual
Spring Market on April 14 in St.
Jacobs, Ontario.
David Audette said that he is
extremely proud and humbled
to be recognized in this fashion.
“This recognition from Home
Hardware is really a reflection
of the support this community
has given our store, and clearly
demonstrates the hard work our
staff put in every single day,”
said Audette. “Customer service
begins with a welcoming smile
at the door and ends with a happy customer.”
To receive the Proud of My
Home Award, recipients must
demonstrate excellence in Staff
performance and customer service, interior presentation, including clear signage, tidiness,
and merchandise presentation
and displays; exterior presen-

Lorette Home Hardware Building Centre, Dealer-Owner, David Audette receives the Proud of
my Home Award for Best Home Hardware Store under 6,000 Sq. Ft. (L – R): Terry Davis,
Home Hardware President and CEO, David Audette, Dealer-Owner, Lorette Home Hardware,
Dale MacPherson, Senior Director of National Operations, Heather Brincheski, Regional Sales
and Operations Manager, Melina Audette and Lucas Audette.

tation, including cleanliness and
attractive window displays; staff
training; and participation in dealer
network initiatives. Each store must
demonstrate a commitment to high
performance retail standards, along
with the preservation and enhancement the brand in their markets.
Terry Davis, President and CEO,
Home Hardware Stores Limited
noted at the awards event. “Lorette
Home Hardware truly embodies the

values on which Home Hardware
was founded on, which includes
value, service and dependability.”
“I would like to emphasize how
thankful we are to be able to serve a
community that has been so good to
us over the last 27 years,” Audette
added. “This is a testament to the
commitment of our staff and demonstrates the strong support we receive from our community. This is
truly their Home!”

Community Clean Up Days!
Spring has sprung and now that
the snow has vanished, the dirty
remnants of winter have left behind a variety of litter throughout
southern communities and ditches.
In an effort to bring the community
together and clean up, many towns
have organized specific events to
encourage participation.
Here are some of the events taking place during May.
Town of Ste. Anne
Come and help clean up the community. Meet at 10 am, on May
12 at the Ste. Anne splash park to
see what areas need cleaning and
join us back in the park at noon for
some lunch provided by the Ste.
Anne Lions Club.
La Broquerie
Register your mile(s) or equivalent
area now at La Broquerie Rona,
farrel@lablumber.com or call 204424-5333. Then from May 4 to 12,
pick up your garbage bags, pickers and safety vests at Rona during regular business hours 8 am
to 6:30 pm Monday to Friday and
from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday.
Free T-shirts for first 100 volunteers that come in. Clean up your
area, return your bags to Rona site
and claim your prize draw tickets
and volunteer appreciation Hot
Dog Lunch tickets. A pick-up service is available for oversized and
hazardous materials.

Steinbach
The annual Pickup and Walk community clean up event will take place
in Steinbach on May 5 or rain date on
May 12 as a collaborative effort between Steinbach churches and the city.
Anyone wanting to participate can
meet at T.G. Smith Arena in Steinbach
at 9 am. Volunteers will be dispatched
in groups and supplied with maps,
routes, and garbage bags. People are
encouraged to wear rubber boots,
gloves and to dress for the weather. A
thank you lunch will be provided, free
of charge, back at the arena at noon.

Woodridge
Woodridge Community Cleanup is
Saturday, May 5. Meet at the community centre for 9 am. Dress appropriately and bring garbage gloves. Free
hot dogs and drinks for volunteers
afterwards.
Niverville
Town Cleanup Days is on May 11 and
12. Bins will be available at the Arena
Grounds for dropping off larger items
that cannot be placed in regular garbage disposal. Drop off hours are Friday, May 11from 12 - 8 pm, Saturday,
May 12 from 8 am - 5 pm.

On April 24, volunteers from the St. Adolphe Bible Fellowship Church hit the streets of St.
Adolphe to clean up the community. Photo courtesy of St. Adolphe Bible Fellowship Church

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

May 2018

Steinbach Chamber’s Spring Banquet
Inspires Leaders for Tomorrow

It was a full house for the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce’s annual spring banquet.

On April 24, the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce hosted their 64th
annual spring banquet.
This year’s event featured keynote
speaker Kirstine Stewart, one of
Canada’s most high-profile women
in business. She has worked as
Twitter’s Managing Director, Head
of Twitter Canada, and helped to
launch Dragon’s Den on CBC.
Stewart spoke on how modern
workplaces need new leaders who
value partnership, collaboration
and empathy. Some of the key takeaways from her talk were how to
address innovation from different
perspectives and how to thrive on
the risk of business. She pointed out
that sometimes people get confused
between innovation and technology and business owners should use
technology to push their innovations
forward. “Technology has really
broken down the barriers. You can
set yourself up in a space as you are

doing today with your radio interview, sitting on the side of a table
with your iPhone,” Stewart told the
crowd. “We have capabilities now
that we never had before that were
really concentrated in big cities.
They are now open to all. That creates a huge opportunity for smaller
communities to thrive.”
Stewart also spoke about how the
biggest risk can be staying right
where you are and how business
owners and leaders need to create
a trusting place in order to make
change a positive thing. “The best
way for businesses to thrive on
social media is to protect their
client’s safety by being respectful
with their data and to be a safe haven for their customers.”
Attendees were inspired by her
explanation that when, “We take
risks, and we do them together”
and by doing so, we can “Be the
leaders of tomorrow”.

Keynote speaker Kirstine Stewart inspired attendees with her explanation that when “We take
risks, and we do them together” and by doing so, we can “Be the leaders of tomorrow”.

Youths Facing Charges after
Crashing Stolen Vehicle
On Sunday, April 22, at approximately 3 am, Steinbach RCMP observed a vehicle speeding within the
City of Steinbach, running 2 stop
signs and colliding with a tree on
Wilson Street at Hespeler.
Police investigated and now four
youths will be facing charges of
theft of the motor vehicle, possession of property obtained by crime,

operation of a motor vehicle while
pursued by police, and dangerous
operation of a motor vehicle.
The RCMP would like to thank
the public for their assistance.
Police had also located in a
bushy area near the Steinbach
Arena a red and white dirt bike
that was stolen on the same morning.

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Niverville Songwriter
Named Artist of the Year
On April 16, Niverville songwriter Jordan St. Cyr was named as the winner of
the first annual Christian International
Talent Contest, CMUnited talent contest. CM United’s annual is a chance to
get discovered and further a career as a
Christian Music Artist.
St. Cyr began his musical journey at
the age of 14 writing poems and lyrics
that longed to reveal the deeper things
of life. St. Cyr’s current single “In My
Lifetime” has garnered international attention, winning 1st place in the Nashville based Unsigned Only competition,
judged by such artists as Bart Millard
(Mercy Me), David Crowder (Crowder),
and Aaron Schust. He was also named
2017 Nashville Rising Star winning
songwriter and is currently touring
across the US and Canada.
The contest gives artists an opportunity to showcase their talent and compete
online against other talented musicians
instead of in a public venue similar to
Canadian Idol.
Founded in 2001, CMUnited is a free
membership organization that networks
Christian songwriters, worship leaders,
artists and bands. CMUnited hosts international talent contests quarterly, and
they also host the longest-running Chris-

Niverville’s Jordan St. Cyr has been named Artist of the Year.

tian song writing contest in existence.
A few days later, the International Song writing Competition announced their 2017 winners
in the most prestigious and respected song writing competition in the world. The event received
more than 16,000 entries from 140 countries.

By Marianne Curtis
A grade 12 student from St. Adolphe
was one of five women presented with
the prestigious Nellie McClung Trailblazer Scholarship.
Dawson Trail MLA Bob Lagassé, MLA
for Dawson Trail was pleased to personally congratulate Jazmin Boisclair of St.
Adolphe for being awarded the prestigious Nellie McClung Trailblazer Scholarship.
The Manitoba Government and the
Nellie McClung Foundation award the
Trailblazer Scholarships to female high
school students considering careers in the
fields of science, technology, engineer-

ing and math (STEM), business, or under-represented trades. “I am very proud that Jazmin’s
accomplishments have been recognized with this
scholarship,” said Lagassé. “She is an outstanding ambassador for our area and I know she will
continue to achieve great success in her academic
career and as a leader in the community.”
Boisclair is one of five Grade 12 students from
across Manitoba who was awarded a $1,000
scholarship based on their aptitude in an area
of study that could lead to further education or
careers in STEM, business, or under-represented
trades.
An additional five awards of $1,750 were granted to female students who are in their first year of
post-secondary study.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

SITC Announces 10th
Anniversary Concert Lineup
By Marianne Curtis
In preparation for the 10th anniversary celebrations of Summer in the City
(SITC), organizers have pulled out all
the stops with this year’s music lineup
which is scheduled to take place June
15, 16 and 17.
To the delight of country fans throughout the region, Canadian Country superstar Terry Clark is taking over the
main stage on Friday night. The 3-time
Juno Award winner and the 8-time
CCMA Entertainer of the Year has also
been crowned CCMA Female Vocalist
of the year five times. She still holds
the honour of being the only Canadian
female artist to be a member of the
Grand Ole Opry. She has 13 Top Ten
singles, with six number ones in Canada and US including “Better Things
To Do,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” and
“Northern Girl”.
On Saturday, the main stage will
feature classic rockers Juno Album of
the Year winners Honeymoon Suite
and Winnipeg-based Harlequin as
co-headlining acts on the main stage
Saturday night. The show will be starting earlier in the evening as well, to
give concert goers an opportunity to
enjoy both bands. Expect to hear Honeymoon Suite perform some of their
classics, including “New Girl Now”, Country superstar Terri Clark is heading the SCU Main Stage Friday Night.
and “Burning in Love”. In 1986 they
won the Juno for Group of The Year.
Winnipeg based Harlequin is still a
staple of rock radio in Canada, where
the band’s old and new hits receive remarkable amounts of airplay.
With plenty of family activities including a midway, great meals at the
food trucks and many vendors, visit
the festival on Father’s Day for Worship in the City. The morning service
will be led by Danny Plett & Project
Worship with guest speaker Mark
Hughes from Winnipeg-based Church
of the Rock.
The music lineup for Sunday’s Wor- Classic rock
fans will be
ship in the City is just as stellar with
treated to a
Toronto-based band Manic Drive
double bill
headlining the SCU Main Stage for a
Saturday
free evening concert at 6 pm. Comenight when
dian Matt Falk and Christian pop/worWinnipeg’s
ship band The Color will take to the
Harlequin
stage before Manic Drive closes the
(right) and
Ontario’s
evening off.
Honeymoon
Suite (above)
share the
main stage
for an extra
long concert
event.

On Sunday night a free main stage performance, including Manic Drive (left),
Matt Falk (right) and The Color (below)
will close out this year’s festival.

Tickets for Friday and
Saturday main stage
events are available
to purchase May 1 at
summerinthecity.ca.

May 2018

Nominations Open
for Business Awards
Steinbach’s business community is asking the public if you have experienced amazing customer service or if you know of a business that is
always supporting fundraising efforts or community events and is there
a young entrepreneur that you think will be a future leader in our community.
Ben Dueck, Executive Director of the Steinbach Chamber is excited
about the upcoming business awards. “It’s exciting to celebrate business
in Steinbach, recognizing success and community involvement,” said
Dueck. “Steinbach is a special place, and these awards acknowledge the
role business plays in making this city unique.”
Nomination forms are now available from the Steinbach Chamber of
Commerce Business Awards. The public is encouraged to submit nominations in five award categories including Business of the Year, Customer Service, Community Involvement, Future Leader and Non-Profit.
Nominations will be accepted online at the Chamber website starting
May 11. Nominations can also be submitted by filling out a nomination
form at the Chamber Office.
An independent selection committee, consisting of community members, carefully reviews and evaluates submissions. The public will be
asked to go to the Chamber’s website between June 20 and July 18 to
select the business they feel is most deserving of the Customer Service
Award.
The nominee with the highest number of unique public votes receives
the award. “These business awards are meant to represent the thoughts
of the community of Steinbach, so be sure to nominate a business for
their excellence in one of the award categories,” said Dueck.
The winners will be announced and awards presented at the Chamber’s
Annual General Meeting held on September 25.

Pickup Stolen from
Farm Property
On April 9 Steinbach RCMP were apprised of a Break and Enter that
occurred over night at the HyLife Farm situated on Hwy 302 and Road
24 North in the RM of La Broquerie. A Red Dodge Ram with Licence
Plate EBP 107 was stolen from that location. Police are requesting any
information regarding the break in, or the whereabouts of the truck.
If you have any information regarding this incident you are asked
to contact the Steinbach RCMP Detachment at 204-326-4452 or
CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or manitobacrimestoppers.com or
text “TIPMAN” plus your message to Crimes (274637).

10

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Ste. Anne Area
Author Celebrates
Release of Novels
A Ste. Anne area author is celebrating the recent release of
two novels, and the soon-to-be
release of a third book in a four
book series of young adult novels.
A Nova Scotia native, Christine
Frances settled in Ross for a few
years before moving to Richer
where she wrote her books. After a lot of research and hard
work, her first book Taming of
the Beast, was accepted for publication by Devine Destinies in
January.
“Finishing my novel was on
my bucket list, which I fulfilled
in 2016. I never dreamed of publishing my book, but my sister
was adamant that I give it a shot,” Ste. Anne area author Chrisine Frances.
Frances explained. “Though
they are not a children’s book, I
still read most of the book to my
granddaughters.”
The four book series is considered a mystery, paranormal
romance for young adults that
teaches readers to embrace their
differences.
“My book teaches you that no
matter how different you are,
you are still an amazing person
who has so much to offer to society,” Frances explained. “It
also teaches you that if a person is different from what you
would consider as normal, take
a chance and get to know them
Taming of the Beast and Journey into the
for who they are the inside. My
Unknown are available on Amazon.
second granddaughter is credited
with naming the third book.”
Taming of the Beast is the
first book in a four book series
titled Lord of His People. Taming of the Beast was released in
June of 2017. The second book
in the series called Journey to
the Unknown was released in
November 2017. This summer,
the third book, Discovery of the
Lion People is scheduled to be
released.
France’s books are currently
available only in e-book format
on the publishers’ website or
Amazon. Paperbacks are expected to be released at a later date.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Rescued Eagle on Its Way to Ile des Chenes
Wildlife Haven in Ile des Chenes
is receiving a new guest after locals
and RCMP in Lynn Lake were able to
rescue an injured Bald eagle.
On Tuesday, April 25, the Lynn Lake
RCMP received a report from a local
resident that they had rescued the injured eagle from the slush on the lake
and it was now inside their van.
The officers arrived with a dog kennel and, with the use of snowmobile
mitts, were able to transfer the eagle
from the van to the kennel without
further injuring it or the officers. The
injuries suffered by the eagle are unknown at this time.
Arrangements have been made for
the eagle, now referred to as “Slushie” by the locals, to be transported to
Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre
RCMP in Lynn Lake were able to rescue an injured Bald eagle.
for examination.

Basketball Manitoba Recognizes Local Hoop Stars
By Marianne Curtis
On April 14, several high school
basketball players and two coaches
from Lorette, Niverville, Vita and
Ste. Anne were recognized by Basketball Manitoba.
Each year, Basketball Manitoba
proudly presents the All-Manitoba
Teams, Players of the Year, Coaches of the Year, Special Recognition Awards and Coaching Service
Awards to those who have excelled
on the basketball court at the high
school level this past season.
This year’s winners include Keegan
Beer, from Niverville Collegiate
who was named AA Male Player of

the Year. The A Female Player of the
Year honour was awarded to Megan
Wiebe from Shevchenko School.
As part of the event, top players
from across the province are invited
to play against each other in the AllManitoba games. Parker Davis from
Niverville Collegiate, Coltin Penner,
from Shevchenko School and Alex
Dejong from Ste. Anne Collegiate
was among the 10 A/AA/AAA Male
team members. The only local female invited to join the competition
in the A/AA/AAA Female All-Manitoba Team’s level was Hanna Hamm
from Shevchenko School in Vita.
Two coaches from the area were
also recognized. Penny Hovorka-Al-

cock from Shevchenko School was
named A Girls Coach of the Year
and Richard Toews from Niverville
Collegiate was named AA Boys
Coach of the Year.
As a result of the Basketball Manitoba Awards A, AA, AAA Girls All
Star Game, Megan Wiebe from
Shevchenko School and Cathlin
Berndt from Niverville Collegiate
were both named Home Run Sports
Players of the Game. Izaiah MaplesStevens from Lorette Collegiate was
named Home Run Sports Players of
the Game at the end of the Basketball Manitoba Awards A, AA, AAA
Boys All Star Game.

Funding Supports At-Risk Youth and Crime
Prevention Program in Steinbach
The Manitoba government is funding $50,000 in Steinbach to support
Headway, a program that brings together social service agencies, police and community organizations to
provide comprehensive supports for
at-risk youth and their families.
Headway focuses on at-risk youth
aged 12 to 19 who live in the Hanover School Division, have complex challenges and are involved
with multiple social service agencies. The program brings together

the youth, their families and their
service providers once a month
to identify the root causes of their
issues and then develops a plan
focused on long-term success, reducing negative behaviours and improving health and wellness.
“This program is making a difference for young people and their
families in Steinbach and the surrounding region,” said Kelvin Goertzen, Health, Seniors and Active
Living Minister. “Headway helps

ensure youth can access all of the
existing services and supports that
might benefit them, in a coordinated
and compassionate way.”
Headway has been in place since
2016 and also receives funding and
in-kind support from the Hanover
School Division, Manitoba Child
and Family Services, the RM of Hanover, the RCMP, local businesses
and clubs, and private donations.
For more information about Headway, visit headwaysteinbach.ca.

Thieves Target Service
Vehicle and Tools
On April 22, Steinbach RCMP received a report of a theft that occurred overnight from a truck at Imperial Metal Industry in Blumenort.
It was reported that unknown suspects smashed the head lights of a
service vehicle and stole tools that were kept inside.
The RCMP are requesting the assistance from the public with any
information.
If you have any information in regards to the above you are asked
to contact the Steinbach RCMP Detachment at 204-326-4452 or
CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or manitobacrimestoppers.com or
text “TIPMAN” plus your message to Crimes (274637).

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

May 2018

11

Piney Career Symposium a Huge Success Locks Cut to Gain Access
The Piney Regional Chamber of
Commerce, along with the Ross L.
Gray School in Sprague hosted their
1st annual career symposium on
April 13.
Chamber President Jonathon Prevost said the event “exceeded expectations” and are calling it a huge
success for the students, staff and
community. The inaugural event
was held to give everyone an opportunity to network and showcase the
business community within the RM
of Piney.
A total of eighteen different businesses and organizations set up
tables in the Ross L. Gray School,
giving students an opportunity to
see what jobs or opportunities were
available to them after graduation.
Presentations were also open to the
public.
It was also an opportunity to find
out what jobs were available locally,
with the main opportunities in the
area being business, horticulture,
forestry and health care. There was
a variety of speakers at the event,
including representatives from Borderland School Division Apprenticeship Program, Access Credit Union

Between the April 8 and 10 at least two individuals cut the
locks of the storage units at a storage compound in the RM of
La Broquerie. Once inside the individuals rummaged though
the units stealing belongings. The investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information you are asked to contact the
Steinbach RCMP Detachment at 204-326-4452 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or manitobacrimestoppers.com or text
“TIPMAN” plus your message to Crimes (274637).

Local Business
Directory
Nicole Fontaine, Information Officer at World Trade Centre Winnipeg, was on hand to present their
services, resources and the opportunity to discuss entrepreneurship with the grades 7 - 12 students
and the community.

and Community Futures Triple R. Those
considering opening their own business
were treated to a special afternoon session with Nicole Fontaine of the World
Trade Centre where she discussed the
ins and outs of entrepreneurship and
owning your own business.

Prevost noted that those in attendance
left with a firm grasp of programs offered
in the area, loan programs available to
small business and entrepreneurship. The
Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce
is hoping to make this a yearly event for
students and the community.

Cannabis Hot Topic at AMM Gathering
Cannabis legislation remains a
hot topic among municipal officials
when the city leaders gathered in
Brandon for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) meeting in the middle of April.
Starting April 11, almost 700 municipal officials gathered to discuss a
number of items, including the 2018
Federal and Provincial budgets and
policing costs. But one of the biggest
issues continues to be the upcoming
cannabis legalization and regulation.
The AMM’s position is that municipalities should be closely consulted
throughout the process, and tools
and resources should be provided to
help municipalities prepare prior to
and following legalization.

AMM President Chris Goertzen said it
is essential for the cities to work together on issues like cannabis legalization.
“There are many questions around this
issue, but what is certain are increased
challenges and costs for municipalities,”
he explained.””We look forward to working with the Province to address both.”
The AMM also wants a fair revenuesharing model that respects municipal
authority and recognizes rising policing
costs. Late last year, the Federation of
Canadian Municipalities (FCM) advocated that one-third of cannabis excise
tax revenues flow to municipalities. In
response, the Federal government agreed
to release half of its share to the provinces specifically to support municipal
costs. The AMM has requested 33 per-

If you have any information in regards to these items you are asked
to contact the Steinbach RCMP Detachment at (204) 326-4452 or
CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.manitobacrimestoppers.
com or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to Crimes (274637).

RCMP Investigate
Break and Enter

Stolen
Snowmobile

On April 11 Steinbach RCMP responded to a report of a break and
enter on Wilson Street in Steinbach.
Individuals cut the lock on an outdoor
shed and took a lawn mower, summer
tires, wagon and some copper wire.
The incident happened over night
and RCMP is requesting the public’s
assistance with any information that
will solve the crime.

On March 29 Steinbach
RCMP received a report of
a suspicious dark coloured
GMC or Chevy truck in the
area of High Point Lane.
Shortly after midnight the
truck was observed dragging a snowmobile off a
property.
Steinbach RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance in
locating those responsible.

RCMP
Files

cent of the tax revenue to cover start up
costs.
Cannabis is expected to be legalized in
Canada in July. So far out of 137 municipalities, 97 are in favour of retail stores
setting up to sell pot, 18 have indicated
no and 22 are undecided. There has been
a variety of responses throughout the region. The RM of Stuartburn said, “No”
while the municipalities of Hanover,
La Broquerie and the City of Steinbach
along with the Town of Ste. Anne made
the undecided list.
The AMM Cities Caucus was formed
in 2013 and includes the City of Steinbach, along with Brandon, Dauphin, Flin
Flon, Morden, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk,
Thompson, Winkler and Winnipeg.

RCMP Need Assist in
Finding Dirt Bikes
Between April 27 and April 28 unknown individuals entered a private residence in the RM of La Broquerie. Once
inside the garage, they stole 2 Husqvarna
Dirt Bikes. One is a 2014 model and the
other is a 2015 model. Both are white
and yellow in color.
Police are requesting any information
regarding this break and enter and the
whereabouts of these dirt bikes.

12

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Taekwondo a Family Affair

The Bernier family is a first in Taekwondo for Manitoba. Lionel Bernier (right) welcomes his 7 year old granddaughter, Rya Bernier, into the
black belt level after she tested for her 1st Poom Black Belt. Lionel’s son
Aaron completes the three generations involved in the sport. They train
out of Spirit 1 Taekwondo Academy in Lorette.

ATV Accident Claims Kleefeld Woman
The community of Kleefeld is mourning
after the sudden loss of 21-year-old woman after a side-by-side accident that took
place east of the community on April 21.
According to RMCP, the crash occurred
in a field just off Provincial Road 27 East

after 4 pm in the RM of Hanover, east
of Kleefeld.
When police arrived on scene the
woman was suffering from life threatening injuries and was transported to hospital via STARS.

A twenty-year old female passenger did not sustain any injuries.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor and the driver was not wearing
a seat belt or helmet. RCMP are
continuing to investigate.

May 2018

13

Community Grant Program
Addressing Women’s Priorities
Community organizations are invited to apply for one
of four grant programs geared towards funding community development projects and initiatives.
The government is funding more than $20 million in
community development programs for the 2018-19 fiscal
year. Applications are now being accepted for the Community Places Program, Hometown Manitoba, Neighbourhoods Alive! and Partner 4 Growth.
Projects that support women’s safety and reduce rates of
violence against women, priority will be given to new applications focused on four additional areas. These include
projects that enable and support women’s empowerment
and support for women in vulnerable situations. Other
priorities include economic development that aligns with
regional strategies, key repair of high-priority community
assets, initiatives concentrating on community, heritage,
tourism and recreation facilities and projects and social
innovation like support for social enterprises, projects
that include a social return on investment (SROI) evaluation and projects that target measurable social outcomes.
Successful applications must show how they will support planning, building and sustaining communities, and
provide an overall positive benefit for their community.
For the first time, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) will be involved in the evaluation
process for community development programs. AMM
involvement will continue to align key priorities between
provincial and municipal partners to ensure the community benefit is maximized at the local level.
Chris Goertzen, President, AMM said that they are
pleased to have an expanded role on the selection committee and look forward to evaluating what are sure to
be very worthy applications to these programs. “Community development projects are essential to promoting
economic development and sustainability in our local
communities, our regions, and our entire province,” said
Goertzen.
Application deadline is May 28. For more information,
or to submit an application, visit gov.mb.ca/mr/bldgcomm/intake.

14

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Honour
and Glory
with Sweet
Savour
When a person becomes a true Christian, their natural desire is
to please God, or be pleasing to Him. II Corinthians 2:15 says,
“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ…” How does a
Christian get to this point?
First, let’s look at what “savour” means. It is similar to the
word “flavour” meaning something that is pleasing, acceptable
or agreeable. Savour is mentioned over 60 times in the Bible
and most occurrences use the term “sweet savour.” We can be a
“sweet savour” to God or a “stinking savour” to God (only mentioned one time in the Bible).
This principle is more easily understood when we look at the
food we eat. Most of our food is very bland and has little “savour”, so we add things to spice it up to make it pleasing or acceptable to our taste. We may add a bay leaf, onion, garlic, salt,
pepper, etc. Not everybody has the same taste preference so we
would each have our food prepared differently.
If Christians are compared to the food we eat, and God is like the
people who enjoy the food, then our desire as Christians should
be to be savoury to God (be pleasing, acceptable and agreeable).
But, just like food that can’t savour itself, neither can we as Christians. The cook prepares the food just the way he wants it. Likewise God has a plan for each individual Christian and His desire
is to savour him/her according to God’s will. Then we become a
sweet savour of Christ to God. We then remind Him of His Son,
Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul had the right idea in I Corinthians 9:22, “To
the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made
all things to all men.” Paul let God flavour (savour) him whatever
way God wanted so he could reach all different kinds of people.
If you want to impress someone, you cook a meal for them, exactly how they like it. Now you have someone on your side. Likewise when God wants to reach someone for Himself, He chooses
His savoury servant, who is specially prepared for the occasion
and brings the two together.
In the book of Esther, God brought Esther, His savoury servant
into contact with King Ahaseurus. This got the king to change his
mind and instead of killing all the Jews, he had their lives spared
and even blessed them.
Our desire ought to be to let God savour us to be the vessel of
His choice to do whatever He wants. This is the only way we
can be pleasing and acceptable to God. He is pleased and we get
blessed for being submissive and obedient to Him.
God bless you as He makes you a “sweet savour” for His honour and glory and pleasure.

I met a Death Doula!
Last November, I met a Death
Doula. His name is Gerald Fournier.
Yes, I said “Death Doula”… so
what is a Death Doula? You may
have heard about a Birth Doula; a
Birth Coach, someone that works
with the expectant mother and supports her and the family before birth,
during birth, and after birth.
A Death Doula provides similar
support to the family, works with
the dying individual and their family, before death, during death and
after death.
This new but important professional supports end of life care.
They work in concert with the health
care professionals that provide the
physical care to the dying person.
The Death Doula helps more on the
spiritual side, the emotional side, the

mental side, the holistic family side.
They provide support in many ways
depending on the needs of the dying
person and their family to help create legacy projects, help with reconciliation, plan vigils for the dying,
advocate for the dying person and
their family, ensure documents are
in place such as Wills, Power of Attorney, and Health Care Directives;
help clarify roles before and after
death.
A Death Doula walks along-side
the family providing support, helping them access resources they may
not be aware of and provide services
that may not be available from our
current health care professionals including palliative care.
They spend a lot of time with the
dying person and their family getting to know them, creating relation-

ships, and helping them to prepare
for death ensuring they know what
to expect and ensuring the surviving
family members have as much closure as they need before, during, and
after the death. They assist with the
transition from life to death, for the
entire family.
Why do we need a Death Doula?
Our culture has changed over the
years, over the past 100+ years.
Death has been removed from the
family home and has been institutionalized and sanitized. We have removed the preparation of death. We
no longer experience what someone
goes through when they die. We
no longer witness an older family
member dying at home. I think it’s
time we brought dying back to the
living. We need to experience someone else’s dying so we know what to

expect when it is our turn. Or when
someone close to us dies.
I wish I had a Death Doula in my
life when my father was dying. It
may have opened up some communication and helped me create my
parents’ legacy while my father was
still alive instead of me trying to do
it on my own now for the past few
years. I think my father had a good
death, but if I had a Death Doula
involved I would have the comfort
of knowing that yes, he did have a
good death.
As my father was dying in a personal care home in Winnipeg, I was
called in one Saturday because “he
had become unresponsive”. When
I arrived, I was told they wanted
to call an ambulance… I was completely against it. He doesn’t need
to go to a hospital. He needs to be

made as comfortable as possible
while he dies naturally. They administered morphine for comfort
care. These health care professionals didn’t seem to know how to help
my father or his family experience a
peaceful, natural death. He died the
next morning. This was November
2014. He was 94. Unfortunately, I
don’t think my experience would
have been much different today.
We don’t seem to have time for
dying. No time to look after the dying. We are not comfortable around
those who are dying. We don’t know
what to say or what to ask. A Death
Doula helps us with that.
I’m not implying our current health
professionals are not competent. I

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

May 2018

15

Why Do We
Fear Death?

I Met a Death Doula!
continued...
believe they have been trained to focus on treating the illness and keeping people alive as long as possible.
And they don’t have the time to
spend with families to answer questions they haven’t even thought of;
about what to expect in the upcoming months, weeks, or just days.
Coaches and Financial Advisors
like me are trained to give you answers to questions you don’t even
know you have. Same for Death
Doulas. They are death coaches;
they help answer questions you
don’t even know you have. A Death
Doula helps us experience a comfortable death; a quality death. One
that everyone can be comfortable

with. Have peace with. And be happy with. And have no regrets.
Mr Fournier explained, “We live
in a death phobic culture, which creates poverty; a poverty of literacy
around dying and grieving. In the
North American culture, we find
ourselves well protected from being
obliged to know all there is to know
about dying, about dying well. Most
often we are afraid of the dying experience; we don’t want to know
what the dying go through, what we
as survivors will go through,” explains Gerald.
“We don’t need grief counsellors,”
says Gerald. “We need grief educators. We need to be taught alternative way of grieving and mourning
our dying and dead loved ones.”
A Death Doula provides support

to move the dying and their family to
experience a peaceful and enhanced dying experience, to “die well”. We need to
relearn about death and dying, that death
is a part of living.
I encourage you to find out more about
what a Death Doula does. If you think
you need one in your lives right now,
please contact Gerald Fournier now by
email, fourng241@gmail.com or phone
at 204-803-0182.
Our Death Cafes will be starting up
again in July. If you would like to be on
our contact list, please call our office!
Anni Markmann is a Personal Income
Tax Professional and Certified Financial Planner; living, working, and volunteering in our community. Contact us
at 204-422-6631 or 36 Dawson Road in
Ste Anne (near Co-op) or Info@SteAnneTaxService.ca.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58… 51) Listen, I tell you a mystery:
We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed 52) in a flash,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be
changed 53) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54) When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal
with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory. “ 55) “Where, O death
is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? “ 56) The sting of
death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57) But thanks be
to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the
Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in
vain. (NIV)
Seldom do I write to you folks about death. We always want
to stay on the living side of things and not think too much about
the dying side of things. But perhaps I should. The reason I say
that, is because you and I often sit back and in silence wonder
what is out there, what will happen when we die? One moment
we are here, and the next moment we are in eternity. Thoughts
like that can send shivers up our spine; even frighten us if we do
not know the answer for one of life’s most perplexing mysteries.
But really it should not frighten us.
Oh! I could tell you that I am so righteous and holy that for me
there is no fear of death; that would be stretching the truth just a
little. No sensible person dies without some form of uncertainty,
some form of doubt that grabs our attention. What we need at
this moment is some form of assurance from a higher power to
calm our heart and soul, for the Bible does just that.
The Scriptures tell us that Adam, the earthly man, and all his
descendants, “That is you and I,” receive natural, earthly bodies.
Christ, however, the man from heaven who came in a human
body received a glorified, spiritual body following His resurrection. In the same way, our earthly bodies which now die, and
decay are different from the bodies we shall have when we come
back to life again for they will never again become sick and die;
but they will be full of glory and strength. Our human bodies at
death are weak and tired, but when they will come back to life
they will be superhuman bodies.
The Bible teaches that an earthly body made of flesh and blood
cannot get into God’s heaven. These perishable bodies of ours
are not made of the right stuff; they are not the right kind to live
forever. But at the resurrection, we shall all be given new bodies! It will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when
the last trumpet shall sound. For there will be a blast from this
trumpet so loud that all the Christians who have died will hear…
all who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour before
they passed away will suddenly become alive with new bodies.
Bodies that will never again get sick and old, bodies that will
never again feel pain, bodies that will never again die; but listen,
there is more. If you are still alive when this happens, your bodies will undergo the same change and it will happen faster then
you can blink your eye.
Why do we fear death? Perhaps it comes from the fear of the
unknown. But maybe it comes from the sense of sin. If we do
not have the assurance of salvation in our heart, if we have never
sought Christ’s forgiveness, then there will be this sense of sin
that makes us fear meeting a Holy God. So long as we see in God
only judgment, there will be no hope for us. But that is precisely
what Jesus came to abolish. He came to tell us that God is love
that we can go to him, not as a judge, but to a Father who waits
for us to come home. Because of that, Jesus gave us the victory
over death: Christ displaced the fear of death by demonstrating to us the wonder of God’s love. To God Be the Glory Great
Things He Has Done.
Would you pray this prayer with me, “Lord Jesus, come into my
heart? Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts
and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my
heart that I yearn for. I really want that Peace, joy and happiness
that will fulfill my heart’s desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help
me be the kind of Christian that will honor Your Name.” Amen.

16

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

C ommunity E vents
Dugald
Mixed Doubles Curling League - On Tuesday Nights at 9:15
pm or Sundays at 1 pm at the Springfield Curling Club. Format
will be regular Canadian Guidelines. Cost $130 per person
for a minimum 20 eight end games. Contact Cam Magura at
204-771-0029, ckmagura@gmail.com.
Prairie Voices Toastmasters – On Tuesdays at 6:30 pm in the
Springfield Library.
Falcon Lake
Alcoholics Anonymous - Whiteshell group meets every
Wednesday and Saturday at 8 pm in All People’s Church,
Falcon Lake. Come and meet with us or call 204-349-2374.
We can help.
Grunthal
Spring Rodeo – Begins Friday, May 25 – Sunday, May 27.
Starts at 6:30 pm, Hanover Ag Exhibition Park. The Heartland
Rodeo will entertain the public. The Rough Stock School is a
3-day event of in-class and practical training in bull & steer
riding and bull fighting and the Gymkhana is a great warm up
event to the weekend. Children’s activities, canteen and beer
gardens all weekend as well as a dance on Saturday evening
under the white tent. Cost $12.
Hadashville
Circuit 30 - Mondays and Thursdays at 7 pm, in the Rec Centre
.Alternate aerobic and weight exercises, with cool down and
stretch exercises. Wear comfortable clothing, clean runners,
and bring a bottle of water. Cost $2/class. Contact Wendy
204-348-2433.
Tae Kwon Do - Every Wednesday at 6 pm at the Hadashville
Community Club (Reynolds Recreational Centre) from 6 years
old to adults. Pursue a black belt or learn new skills, great
stress release and have an excellent workout at the same time.
Cost after registration fee is $40/month per person. Ask about
2 week free trial. Contact Shelly at 204-426-5266 or KSTA.
academy@gmail.com.
Ile-des-Chênes
Wildlife Haven Annual Open House Fundraiser - On Sunday,
May 6 from 12 – 4 pm at the TransCanada Centre. Admission
$10 adults, kids 12 and under free. Raffles, bake sale, light
refreshments, guest speakers, and guided tours. Call 204878-3740 or email info@wildlifehaven.ca for info.
IDC Seniors Group – All Activities at the Trans Canada Centre
Seniors Lunch – On Wednesday, May 11 doors open at 11:30
am. Cost$10 per person, entertainment provided by Mr. Ken
Magic, the Magician.
Guest Speaker, The Kidney Association of Manitoba – On
Friday May 11 at 1 pm.
Free Programs:
Indoor walking - Mondays & Wednesdays from 9 – 10 am.
Yoga - Mondays from 10 – 11 am.
Pickleball - Wednesdays and Sundays from 1 -3 pm.
Water Colors - Thursdays from 9 – 11 am.
Block Therapy - Fridays from 9:30 - 10:30 am.
Taekwondo – On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 – 8 pm
at the Ecole Ile Des Chene School. Cost $40/month, family
rates available. Contact Kangs.mb.ca, Master Bill Tam 204296-8217.
Story Time in Pyjamas - Every Thursday evening at the Ritchot
Library Ecole Regional Gabrielle-Roy at 6:30 pm. Ages 2-8
however all ages are welcome.
Our Lady of the Roses Prayer Group – Meets on the first
Saturday of every month, at 6:30 pm to recite the Rosary
and learn about Our Lady of the Roses, Mary Help of Mothers
and receive Blessed Rose Petals and other Sacramentals from
Blessed Mother’s place of miracles. Contact Corinna 204878-4908 or email her at corinnaswetz@hotmail.com for
more info and register.
LDN Auto and Salon 421 Community Event, May 12th from
10 am – 4 pm. LDN Auto Service will be hosting its second
annual free bicycle tune-up and barbecue event. Bring your
bicycle by and pick up a free kids ticket to Red River Co-op
Speedway. Salon 421’s SST Spring Savings and Pay It Forward Event. Free make up and hair consults all day long, no
appointments needed. Come learn how to achieve any style or
look you’ve been thinking about. Help make another less fortunate woman’s day brighter by bringing in those hairstyling
products that you are no longer using, we will donate them
to Osborne House Women’s Shelter, and give you 15% off
any hair product purchase that day. Massive savings on all
SST Cosmetics.
Kleefeld
Annual Community Garage Sales – On Saturday, May 19
starting at 9 am rain or shine.
Community Playgroup - For parents, caregivers and children
up to age 5. Activities include time for playing, stories, songs
and snacks. Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at the
Kleefeld Rec Centre. Contact Irene Ascough 204-377-5013.
La Broquerie
Seine River Services for Seniors- Health Centre/Centre de
Santé from Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4 pm. Services
and programs for seniors. Income Tax help, Lifeline, mobility equipment, foot care, hair care, transportation, home
maintenance, yard maintenance, Telecheck, E.R.I.K. program,
puzzles and games. Contact Community Resource Coordinator
Juliette Rowan, 204-424-5285 or labseinerss@gmail.com.

Shopping Trips to Winnipeg’s St.Vital Mall every first Thursday
of the month, leaving at 10 am - 3 pm. Cost $15. Steinbach’s
Clearspring Centre every last Thursday of the month, from 10
am - 1 pm. Cost $10.
Lorette
Quality Palliative Care and the Sanctity of Human Life – On
Friday, May 11 join us at the Notre Dame de Lorette church for
a prayer and solidarity with a Mass at 9 am and Exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament will follow; Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3
pm with Adoration to 8:45 pm at which time Benediction will
take place. Contact the NDL parish office at 204-878-2221 or
Mae at 204-878-3265. Join us in person or in prayer.
Seniors Group Lunch Program - Lunch available every Tuesday
and Friday. Please reserve your meal one day prior before 6
pm by calling 204-878-2682 and leave message.
Lego Club – On Wednesday, May 30 and Thursday, May 31
from 6:30 -7:30 pm at the Bibliothèque Taché Library, 1082
Dawson Rd. Join us to build, create & explore! Drop-in, no
registration required.
Game Night – First Wednesday, of the month from 6:30
– 8:30 pm at the Tache Library, 1082 Dawson Rd for ages
13 and up. Join us for monthly board game nights, cards,
chess, Crib, Settlers of Catan and many more! Feel free to
bring your own.
Junior Youth – Every Wednesday from 7 - 8:45 pm at Seine
River Church, 1464 Dawson Rd (east of rink) for ages 9 - 12.
Free. No registration required. Non-denominational. Contact
lorettejryouth@gmail.com, 204-260-9304.
Chase the Ace Lottery – On Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.,
draw at 8:45 pm at Dawson Trail Motor Inn Bar. Come, support this very much needed complex, at the same time have
the chance to chose the Ace of Spade, and win the grand
prize jackpot. Hosted by the Community Complex Fundraising
Committee.
New Horizons Seniors - Play cards, Scrabble and more. Drop
in Tuesdays 1 - 5 pm at Foyer Notre Dame Lorette, 12 St.
Amant Ave. Contact Iris 204-878-3552.
Mitchell
Peace River Gospel Church Soup & Pie Fundraiser – On Friday,
May 11 from 5 - 7 pm at the Senior Community Centre, 130
Ash St. Everyone welcome. Enjoy delicious homemade soups,
pies; music, live auction, silent auction. Cost donation for
church building fund.
Niverville
Niverville’s Wetlands an Evening in Honour of G. Jim Buys
- On Sunday, June 3 at Niverville Heritage Centre, 100B
Heritage Trail celebrating 33 years of service with the Town
of Niverville. Tickets are $50 each and will be on sale until
May 16. Contact feedback@whereyoubelong.ca or call 204388-4600. Proceeds to support an educational viewing area
for the Wetlands.
Calling All Women Interested in Hiking - Enjoy the outdoors
for health & fun in Hespeler Park. Looking for a lady’s hiking group in Niverville? Join us in our Park on weekdays and
Saturdays. Also evening hours. No advanced experience and
no expensive hiking outfit required. Free! Contact Doreen 204
- 557- 8310, leave a voice mail or dorien@uniserve.com.
GriefShare - If you or someone you know has experienced the
loss of a loved one we wish to help, you get support and learn
about the grieving process. Contact 204-381-1155 to register
or go to Nivervillegriefshare.com.
Moms N’ Tots Playgroup - Moms with children up to age six.
Wednesday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30 am located in the
lower level of Fourth Avenue Bible Church (62-4th Avenue S.)
Free drop-in program with coffee and snacks provided, along
with a large open space for the kids to play while the moms
visit. Contact Karen at klenzrpeters@hotmail.com.
Paradise Village
Paradise Squares Dance Club - On Tuesdays from 7 – 9:30
pm at the Paradise Village Rec. Hall. Modern Square Dancing is fun and a great social activity. Couples and singles are
welcome. Contact Larry 204-422-5424.
Pinawa
Whiteshell Toastmasters – On Tuesdays at 11:30 am at
Whiteshell Laboratories, 1 Ara Mooradian Way. Sign in required.
Prawda
Circuit 30 - Alternate aerobic and weight exercises, with cool
down and stretch exercises. Wear comfortable clothing, clean
runners, and bring a bottle of water. Cost $2/class, Mondays
and Thursdays at 7 pm, in the Reynolds School Gym. Contact
Wendy 204-348-2433.
Busy Bodies Playgroup – Every Wednesday from 9 - 11 am
at the Reynolds School Gym. Free to parents and children.
Snacks provided. Contact Cassie 204-793-8290.
Richer
Local Métis Federation – On Saturday, May 5 from 11 am – 3
pm at the Young at Heart Hall. Local Métis Federation and Regional MMF office will host and process Citizenship, Harvester,
card replacement or card renewal. Cost $10. All children must
obtain their own membership card. Also processing, Métis
Conservation Trust Fund stickers and Big Game Tag. Cost $25.

Each Harvester must return used and unused past year’s tags,
bring their harvester card with them and complete a questionnaire once at the hall concerning Big game hunt. Cash only
accepted at this hosted event. Contac visit the MMF website for
needed documents, mmf.mb.ca.doc.

Fitness Program – Until May 31 every Monday, Wednesday,
Thursday includes cardio, muscle and yoga inspired classes all
designed especially for everyone 50+ at 457 Main St. Cost:
10 classes for $40 and receive 1 extra class free, 5 classes for
$20 or $5 drop in fee.

Craft and Bake Sale Fundraiser – On Saturday, May 12 from
10 am - 3 pm at the Richer Young at Heart Community Centre.
Just in time for Mother’s Day! Fundraiser in support of Helping Hooves Manitoba a Non - Profit Charitable organization
that supports breast cancer patients with out of the pocket
expenses such as gas money for appointments, daycare and
wig costs not covered by the province! Come out and support
our cause.

St. Malo
Métis Local - Attention Métis hunters & fishermen the annual Harvesters, Membership/Citizenship drive will be on
Wednesday, May 16 starting at 4:30 pm at St Malo EPIC,
112 St Malo Street. Cost for stickers $25 for membership,
$10 citizenship, $10 each for harvesters. If you need stickers
make sure you bring your harvester’s card. MMF mobile will
be there. For more information call Edith 204-347-5435.

Celebrate the Bethesda Health Care Auxiliary – On Tuesday,
May 8 at Clearspring Centre from 4:30 – 7:30 pm celebrating
80 years of community service in the health field. There will
be a short program at 6 pm. With the folding of our organization we also want to celebrate the continuing of the Book Faire
by ROC Eastman, We invite all customers, donors, volunteers
and the public to enjoy the refreshments and find out more
about ROC and learn about the legacy of the Auxiliary.

Richer Community Club Chase the Ace! - Every Saturday at the
Richer Inn from 5:30 - 7:45 pm. Tickets only $1 each. Jackpot
is growing! Door prizes on random Saturdays ranging from
glassware to Jets tickets and jerseys! Bud, Spud and Steak
Special and more! Check out and like Richer Community Club
Facebook page for updates. LGA License #1392RF.

Chase the Ace – Every Wednesday, at the St. Malo Hotel,
hosted by the Fire Department and the St. Malo Arena. Purchase tickets from 7 - 10 pm, draws take place at 10:15 pm.
$2/Ticket. License#: LGA 3748-RF-26461. The fire department is raising money for their Wildfire Program. The arena is
raising funds for a new Zamboni. So please come out for your
chance to win and support these organizations that are an
important part of this great community of ours.

Manitoba Day – On Saturday, May 12 from 9 am - 5 pm at
the Mennonite Heritage Village for a Manitoba Day celebration and ceremony. For further information visit mhv.ca.

Adult & Teen Challenge Concerned Persons Support Group Join us Thursday evenings at 7 pm, in the Richer Fellowship
Church, 50 Southeast Drive. If you have a relationship with
someone who has a life-controlling problem, join us for this
nine-week Living Free course. Receive encouragement and
support in a safe setting, and learn practical ways to best help
your loved one. Contact Pastor Ben Funk at 204-326-2254 or
phone the church at 204-422-5308.
Richer Recovery AA - Group meets Monday from 7:30 - 8:30
pm at LUD Hall in Richer. Contact Paul at 204-422-7673.
Monday Night Bingos - To raise funds for Stacey Pchajek Memorial Foundation Inc. The foundation provides scholarships,
bursaries and prizes to students graduating grades 8 and 12.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult to be
on premises and must play bingo. Doors Open at 5:30 pm
at the Young at Heart Club, 22 Dawson Rd. MGCC License
# BI/BO4164. Contact Doreen Pchajek at 422-5243 or
doreen@spmf.ca.
Sarto
Ukrainian Dance Club – On Mondays from 7 - 8 pm at the
Sarto Hall. Join the Sarto Polevnyi Ukrainian Dance Club for
the season! You do not need to be Ukrainian to dance! Boys
& girls, ages 3 to adult, no prior experience required! Cost
starts at $150/year.
Sprague
Spring Fundraiser - On Saturday, May 12 at the Evergreen
Senior’s Centre in Sprague from 10 am to 1:30 pm. There will
be a bowl of chili, hotdogs and drinks for purchase, a silent
auction, 50/50 draw, bake sale and a raffle (1st prize-BBQ,
2nd prize 10 pc Copperware Cook Set, 3rd prize garden tools).
Contact Georgina 204-437-4606 or Darlene 204-437-3238
for information or to purchase tickets.
Sprague & District Historical Museum - Open by appointment
from June – September 30. Explore life as it was in the early
days. Free Admission. Donations Accepted. Contact 204-4372210, 204-437-2209 or 204-437-4686.
St. Adolphe
AGM – On Thursday, May 10 at 7 pm, Ritchot Senior Services
457 Main St. come by to hear what we have been up to this
past year and share your suggestions as to what you would
like to see happening in the future.
Old Tyme Dance – On Saturday May 12 from 7 – 11 pm at
the Pioneer Hall. Cost $15 includes lunch, Music by Country
Plus. Contact to reserve tickets Rae 204 883-2440 or Denise
204 883-2429.
BINGO – On Wednesday, May 16 from 1 -3 pm at Ritchot
Senior Services, 457 Main St. Join us for an afternoon of fun
and games. Bring your lucky charm, fun prizes to be won,
laughs guaranteed. Please call ahead to reserve a seat.
Perennial share – On Tuesday, May 22 pm at Ritchot Senior
Services, 457 Main St. Share your plants, dig out a little bit
of this a little bit of that and bring it by, see what others have
brought and take something new to your own garden.
Spring Fundraiser – On Saturday June 2 from 10 am -2 pm
at Ritchot Senior Services 457 Main St., our 5th annual spring
fundraiser Jour de Plaisir - a Day of Fun with silent auction,
bake sale, BBQ lunch, and outdoor games.
Monthly Mood Disorders Meeting – On Thursdays at 2:30
pm at Ritchot Senior Services 457 Main St. Topics includes
depression, bipolar, recovery, shame, resilience, mindfulness,
meditation, coping and self-soothing skills, interrelationship
skills, seniors’ issues, distress tolerance and peer to peer support. Everyone is welcome.
Lunch Program & Bingo – Every Thursday at the Le Club Amical, 344 Main St. Call ahead for take-out or eat in. Cost $8.
Contact 204- 883-2491.
Pickleball - Thursday evenings from 6 -8 pm at St. Adolphe
School, 444 la seine street.
C.H.I.L.D program – On Wednesdays from 9:30 - 10:30 am
at Ecole St. Adolphe School. Children’s introduction to learning
and development. Contact sas@srsd.ca or 204-883-2182.

Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba - On the last Monday
each month at 7 pm in the Chalet Malouin Activity Room. For
persons experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, bi-polar disorder and other mental health/emotional concerns; individual
and support groups. Contact Judy Dunn 204-444-5228.
St. Pierre-Jolys
Stay and Play Group – Every Monday from 9:30 – 11:30 am
at YFC Cinema. Snacks, coffee served, + childcare available.
The Knights of Columbus - The St-Pierre Carillon Council – On
the first Thursday of the month at 482 Jolys Ave. W. Contact
204-433-7633.
Ste. Agathe
Zumba – On Wednesdays until May 23 from 7 – 8 pm at
the school gym. Cost $60 for the full session (8 classes) or
$10 drop in fee with Janice Jablonski, certified Zumba Fitness
Instructor. Contact 204-712-6265.
Seniors Group Card Games – On Tuesdays from 1:30 - 4:30
pm at the Community Centre, 183 Pembina Trail. Cost Membership $10 a year. Bring a friend Day. Call 204-882-2180.
Taekwondo - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:15 - 7:30
pm at Ecole Sainte Agathe hosted by Kang’s Taekwondo Academy. Cost $40/month. Family rates available. Contact Jason
Barnabe, jason.barnabe@gmail.com or 204-802-3458.
Ste. Anne
Creation Ministries - On Saturday, May 5 starting at 2 pm,
Club Jovial 157 Centrale Ave with Richard Fangrad. Doors
open at 1 pm. Genesis and the origins issue at 3:30 pm,
Noah’s Flood including questions about the Ark, the flood,
fossils, rock layers, the origin of nations and language and
more, Supper at 4:30 pm, Biology and the Bible: Question
and Answer Forum at 6 pm. Resources available for purchase.
Free will offering. Junior High Students to adults will find
this easy to understand. Contact 204-371-6657 or creation
ministries.com.
Need Help Dealing with Abuse of Any form - On Wednesday, May 9 from 10 am to the evening hosted by Ste. Anne
Agape Ministries. Attend the talk with Joanne Langford from
Bolivia at 47 Centrale Ave, to share her insights on this subject. Space limited please reserve your seat. Contact Lucille
204-371-6657.
AGM Seine River Services for Seniors – On Tuesday, May 15
at Le Club Jovial, 157 Centrale Ave. Doors open at 11:30 am.
Everyone welcome. To register contact Juliette Rowan at 204424-5285 before Monday, May 7.
Ste Anne Hospital Health Walk – Saturday, June 2 at 10:30,
Ste Anne Hospital. Fun for the entire family! Prizes, Games,
Music, Face Painting, 4 km walk, Teddy Health Clinic bring
your favorite stuffed animal and more. Cost Free. Get your
registration and pledge forms on our web site.fondhopitalsteanne.ca. Participants enjoy a free BBQ.
Seine River Services for Seniors – Services and programs
for seniors. Income Tax help, Lifeline, mobility equipment,
foot care, hair care, transportation, home maintenance,
yard maintenance, Telecheck, E.R.I.K. program, puzzles and
games. Shopping Trips to Winnipeg’s St.Vital Mall every first
Thursday of the month, leaving at 10 am - 3 pm. Cost $15.
Steinbach’s Clearspring Centre every last Thursday of the
month, from 10 am - 1 pm. Cost $10. Contact Juliette Rowan
at 204-424-5285 Community Resource Coordinator for local
services or e-mail labseinerss@gmail.com.
Ste. Geneviève
Library Night – On 2nd Tuesday every month, at the Community Centre from 6:30 - 8 pm. Large selection of books
in both French and English, for children and adults. Special
requests can be made to the librarian, e-mail btl@srsd.ca or
204-878-9488 or in person. Come for a visit and see what
we are all about.
Steinbach
MS Support Meeting – On Thursday, May 3 from 11:30 am 1:30 pm. Join us at our monthly Lunch and Learn. For location
and additional information, contact Ada Jane at 204-9439595 ext 4904 or adajane.Okonkwo@mssociety.ca.

Annual Stone Bridge Community Garage Sale – On Saturday,
May 12 from 9 am - 6:30 pm at Stone Bridge Community.
Find something you never knew you wanted at all the garage
sales on the east end of Stone Bridge Crossing, including Coral
Cove Granite Park Boulevard and Castlerock Cove.
Steinbach & Area Garden Club - On Monday, May 14 at 7 pm,
at the Mennonite Heritage Village. “What’s New in the Greenhouse?” with Erna Wiebe, Oakridge Greenhouse and Garden
Centre. Find out which annuals, perennials and vegetables are
being offered this spring. Plus - member perennial plant exchange. Everyone welcome. Door prizes. Refreshments. $5 for
non-members. Contact sagardenclub.com for more info.
Owning Your Financial Future: Managing Debt and Making
Credit Work for You – On Tuesday, May 15 from 7 - 8 pm at
the Jake Epp Library, Multi-Purpose Room. A financial literacy
seminar taught by CPA Rene Ritchot. The topic of the seminar
will be This Free. There is a sign up as there is limited space.
Sign up in-person, by phone or email to Jake Epp Library.
Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser – On Thursday, May 17 from
5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Legion Community Hall. Cost $5 for
spaghetti with meat sauce or tomato sauce with garlic bread
and beverages.
Cribbage Night – On Friday, May 25 at 7 pm, Legion Community Hall. Come join us in an evening if fun and games!
Cost $5.
Classic Movie Night at the Library – On Friday, May 25 from
7 – 9 pm at the Jake Epp Library. Join us for a film based on
a classic book! Free admission and popcorn. Showing “Jane
Eyre” starring Mia Wasikowska (rated PG). All children 12 and
under must be accompanied by an adult.
Pancake Breakfast – On Saturday, May 26 from 8:30 - 11:30
am at the Legion Community Hall. Cost $5 for pancakes, sausage, bacon and beverages! Hope to see you all there!
Teddy Bear Fun Day – On Saturday, June 2 from 12 - 3 pm
at the E.A. Friesen Park. Cost Free.
Breast Feeding Group – On Fridays at 10:30 am at the Steinbach Family Resource Centre for a support group, current info
and a variety of presentations. Contact 204-346-0413.
Toddler & Me Story Hour - Classes offered three times a year
for a 10-week session in Fall and Winter and a 5-week session in Spring. Classes are free. Enjoy stories, songs, rhymes,
literacy and parenting tips, crafts and snack for parents and
their children ages 1-3. Advanced In-person registration is
required. Limited space available.
Drop In Book Club – 2nd Tuesday every month at 7 pm in
the Jake Epp Library. We’ll post the book for discussion that
month and if you’d like to join us please stop by. If you want
to start your own book club instead, you can always take advantage of our Book Club collections. No sign up required. Just
read the book and come hang out.
Knit-Wits Drop-In Club for Adults - Every 4th Monday of the
month, from 6 – 9 pm at the Jake Epp Library. This is for
anyone interested in fibre handcrafts such as knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch, needlepoint etc. This is not a class but
a casual knitting circle for all skill levels. Please bring your
own items/supplies.
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) – On Wednesdays, from
8:45 - 10:30 am at the Royal Canadian Legion. Cost $2/
week. A weight control support group that helps take off
pounds sensibly and keep off pounds sensibly. Contact BettyLou Toews at 326-6397.
Eastman Immigrant Services - Many events and activities to
support and help you make new friends. Volunteer to help at
our community events.
Every Day English All Levels - Every Wednesday 1 – 3 pm.
Reading & Writing – All Levels on Monday and Wednesday
from 10 am – 12 pm.
Pronunciation All Levels - On Monday and Wednesday from 7
– 9 pm at D4-284 Reimer Ave. Classes are free.
Southeast Entry Program Online: Learn about Health Care,
Employment and Laws. To register for this 4-week online
program, contact Josie@eastmanis.com, 204-346-6609 or
email lois@eastmanis.com.
Eastman Safety Upcoming Programs - Located at 385 Loewen
Blvd. Register online at eastmansafety.ca or contact 1-204371-1595.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Royal Canadian Legion - On 1st Tuesday every month until
June at 8 pm and Ladies Auxiliary meets 1st Monday of
each month at 7:30 pm at the Steinbach Legion Community Hall, 294 Lumber Ave.
Steinbach Girl Guides - Every Tuesday at the United Church
of Steinbach, 541 Main St. Registration for girls 5-17.
Develop personal values and well-being, self-respect and
respect for others; promote fun, friendship, adventure and
challenges through new experiences; develop leadership
and decision-making skills; give service to the community;
value the natural environment.
The Steinbach Rotary Club - meets every Monday at noon
except when Monday falls on a long weekend at the Chicken Chef, 365 Main Street, visitors are welcome. Contact
Cornie at 326-3155.
Mental Health Information and Support sessions - for family and friends of people with mental health issues are held
the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7 – 8:30 pm at the
Eden East building, 21 Loewen Blvd. Contact Kim at 3710824 or email eastmanmss@mts.net
Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba individual and
support groups - Meets on the first Tuesday of each month
from 1:30 – 3 pm at The Eden East Office, 21 Loewen Blvd
For persons experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, bi-polar disorder and other mental health/emotional concerns.
Contact Judy Dunn 204-444-5228.
Steinbach and Area Lions Club - Meets on the second
and fourth Tuesday of every month at the Helping Hands.
Contact Henry 204-392-7750 if you are interested in attending or joining.
Carillon Toastmasters - Meetings open to adults who want
to improve their leadership and communication skills.
Thursdays at 7 pm at the Jake Epp Public Library 255
Elmdale St. Contact Sheryl at 204-326-7628 or Irene at
204-424-5737.
Al-Anon Program – Meets on Mondays at 7:30 pm at the
Cultural Arts Centre back door, downstairs. Contact Lloyd
204-326-4365.
Al-Anon 12 Step Recovery Group - Meets on Wednesdays
at 7:30 pm at United Church, 541 Main St, front door, ring
doorbell. All are welcome.
Young moms to be - Bi-weekly support group starts at 4:30
pm at Steinbach Family Resource Centre B-11, Hwy 12N.
Contact 204-346-0413.
Tolstoi
Chili Supper and Live Auction Fundraiser - On Friday, May
4 at 6:30 pm at the Hall. Doors open 5:30 p.m. with cash
bar. Ticket $12. Contact Blaine 204-425-3547 or Susan
204-296-0629. Proceeds to Sundown Ukrainian Orthodox
Heritage Church.
Whiteshell
Star Gazing – On Saturday, May 19 from 9 – 10:30 pm
at the Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary. Join our guest speakers
from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as we gaze
at the stars and hear stories from the astronomers, while
looking through
their high-powered telescopes. Join us afterwards inside
the Visitor Centre for hot chocolate. In case of cloudy skies,
program will be rescheduled for Sunday, May 20 Contact
office 204-369-3157 or ParkInterpretation@gov.mb.ca.
Woodridge
The Mobile Clinic – Is onsite on the third Thursday of every
month from 9 am – 4 pm at the Community Club. Contact
for appointments 1-855-644-3515 or southernhealth.ca.
General
Free Monthly Bus Trips to the Casinos of Winnipeg- On
Tuesday, June 12. Join us for a fun filled day. Tour from
8:30 am - 7:15 pm. Begins at 8:30 am, pick-ups in Steinbach, Ste. Anne and Paradise Village. Must be 18 years of
age or older. Prizes and cash giveaways every trip. Bingo
played on the bus. Contact Marilyn at 204-326-4939 for
information and reserve a seat.

Email your community
events to us at
editor@dawsontrail.ca
for inclusion each
month!

17

Hello Spring! Are You There?

Creativi-Tea Time Adult Colouring Group - Twice monthly
on the 2nd Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30 pm and on the
2nd Friday from 1 - 3 pm at the Jake Epp Library. Cost
Free. Join us for a time of relaxation, tea and colouring. Tea
and supplies are provided but you are welcome to bring
your own!
Games Day & Games Night – Every 1st Saturday of the
month from 12 – 5 pm and the 3rd Wednesday of the
month from 6 – 8:30 pm, at the Jake Epp Library. Come
down to play strategy games. Bring a friend, your strategies
and games. Test your skills and have fun. Ages 14 and up
unless accompanied by an adult. Contact 204-326-6841,
programs@jakeepplibrary.com.

May 2018

As I stand at my window, I look
near and I look far and yet there
is no snow to be seen. Oh glorious day! The weather has turned
warmer, the grass (if you look
close enough) has some green
showing and there are about a
million little birds on my driveway. I’m not sure what all those
birds can be finding on that hard
patch of earth but if I’d guess and
would say ants. About a week before, these cute, little feather-balls
invaded, I had seen a whole army
of ants trying to build an anthill
on the driveway. Perhaps the ants

decided to throw a house (anthill)
warming party and someone invited
the birds without thinking it through
completely. Either way, I like watching these little tweeters hopping to
and fro, pecking at whatever catches
their fancy.
Another sign that winter has been
chased away is that my children are
wanting to go and spend time outside.
Much like black bears that have been
slumbering the cold months away,
they slowly emerge from their hibernation and head outside to stretch
their limbs. It is often just after their
emergence that I hear the words,
“Daddy, can you get our bikes out?”
Of course I can! To see my little ones
ripping up and down our driveway
is one of those great sights that, as
a Daddy, I get to see. Inevitably, my

oldest son will begin to build a ramp
consisting of a few bricks and a board
and then I get the joy of watching
them jump their bikes off the edge of
the ramp while my wife cringes inside herself. Thankfully, they haven’t
built anything too crazy, yet...
One sign that spring is nearly here
is specific to my home. It starts by
me getting up and walking from
one room to another. Behind me
will come the sound of little claws
as they tap on the floor at my heels.
As I go back into the previous room
the tapping at my heels will follow.
It seems that our little dog, a PoodlePomeranian mix, is under the impression that if either my wife or I
move then it must be to heed to her
constant wish to be going through the
door to the outside. Now it’s not that

we keep her inside constantly, she
spends plenty of time outside but the
issue is that she has a short coat of
fur. When she goes outside to answer
nature’s call, to sniff noses with our
cat or to just go out and bark at what
she thinks she should be barking at,
she gets cold quite quickly and wants
to be let back inside. A few moments
later, she has forgotten that she was
cold outside and back out she wants
to go. As the weather warms this will
be less of an issue but for now, with
the cold breezes, this can get to be
a bit of a bother for my wife and I.
Speaking of which, our little dog is
staring at me and so I guess I’ll go
and let her out for another couple of
minutes.
Until next time, take care and keep
your world spinning.

18

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

What’s in a healthy lawn?

Lawns produce oxygen: 2,500 square feet of turf releases enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe for a year.
Article courtesy of www.newscanada.com

A healthy lawn does more than just please the eye — it provides a whole range
of environmental, social and economic benefits.
Trees, shrubs and turf help remove smoke, dust and other pollutants from the
air and keep people healthy. Experts also tell us that having just one healthy
tree on the front lawn removes the same amount of carbon dioxide from the
air that’s emitted from driving a car 17,700 kilometres. Lawns also produce
oxygen: 2,500 square feet of turf releases enough oxygen for a family of four
to breathe for a year.
Lawns and gardens also play an important role in improving water quality
and preventing soil erosion. Data show that a well landscaped property helps
prevent pollutants from running into the water supply, reduces surface water
runoff, and reduces storm drain flooding. A dense cover of plants and mulch
holds soil in place and keeps sediment out of lakes, streams, storm drains and
roads.
Studies also show that people are willing to pay more for well landscaped
homes — up to 11 per cent more than for a home with a poorly maintained
property.

Managing Wetness in Your Yard
Before the first summer storm hits this year, take
some time to protect your property against flooding.
Protect doors and windows. Put weather protection sealant around basement windows and the base
of ground-level doors. Install flood shields or barriers
for basement windows and doors, making sure the
tops of the shields extend above ground level.
Safeguard water systems. Install backwater valves
or plugs for drains, toilets and other sewer connections. Make sure your sump pump is working and
install a battery-operated backup, in case of a power
failure.
Facilitate drainage. Water should drain away from
your property and neighbouring
properties. Check that your roof
and eaves are draining properly
in heavy rains and make sure
downspouts extend at least two
metres away from your basement wall.
Prepare for flooding. Raise
large appliances, furnaces, hot
water heaters and electrical panels up on wood or cement blocks
above the potential water level.
If an item can’t be raised, consider anchoring it and protecting it with a floodwall or shield.
Move furniture, valuables and
electronics to the safest place in

Consider planting a “rain garden” by using landscaping as way to catch and disperse water in
the soil near your property. Use native plants and vegetation that will resist soil erosion.

your property that is least likely to be affected by flooding.
Add some greenery. Consider planting a “rain garden” by using landscaping as way to catch and disperse water in the soil near your property.
Use native plants and vegetation that will resist soil erosion.
Check outdoor grading. Make sure that your lot is properly graded. If
possible, build up the ground around your property so that water can drain
away from basement walls.
Find more information at www.canada.ca/flood-ready.
Article courtesy of www.newscanada.com

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

May 2018

19

Helpful Tips When Landscaping Your New Home
Gardens and landscaping can turn your
home into a beautiful oasis and boost its
curb appeal.
Before you dig that koi pond however,
you need to be aware of the risk of poorly planned landscaping that could result
in unintended water penetration of your
home. In trying to beautify the exterior,
you could end up with a leaky basement
while also jeopardizing your new home
warranty.
As the homeowner, you are responsible
for taking care of your new home. This includes not altering any soil grading your
builder has put in place to protect from
water penetration.
If your landscaping ideas require any
changes to the slope around your home,
this could lead to poor surface drainage,
ponding, flooding, basement dampness,
or foundation settlement — all of which
could result in damage that may not be
covered under your new home warranty.
So, before you start making any plans
that could impact any of the drainage systems on your property, be sure it won’t
cause water to accumulate anywhere near
your home’s foundation. This is important
for projects as simple as planting flowers
and more complex ones like installing a
pool, deck or even a second driveway,
Here are a few tips to keep in mind if
you’re embarking on any landscaping
projects this season:
Make sure the land slopes away from
your house so water does not accumulate
near the foundation of your home.
Extend downspouts so water flows
away from the house and does not collect
next to the basement walls and windows.
Ensure surface drainage is directed
away from window wells and exterior
stairwells.

In trying to beautify the exterior, you could end up with a leaky basement while also jeopardizing your new home warranty.

Don’t cover up exterior weeping holes. These allow water inside
a home to move outside and evaporate. Raising the grade above weeping holes could allow water to back
up and weaken your foundation.
It could also encourage insects or
small animals to enter your home.

It’s important to know that lot
grading requirements vary in different municipalities.
Before making changes to your
builder’s grading, check with your
local building department to understand the requirements that apply to
your home.

Keep Your Stubble Fire Under Control
Stubble burning and grass fires are common ways to eliminate overgrown areas. Although it may be effective, be sure
safety precautions are in place and keep a close watch over
your fire to ensure it doesn’t get out of control. Uncontrolled
stubble and grass burning can damage utility poles and interrupt electrical service to the community.
Landowners must keep safety in mind and take these precautions when burning:
Check with your municipality for regulations before you
start your fire. Information is available at gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops regarding current burning restrictions.
Clear the area around the base of hydro poles that might
be in the burn area and set up fireguards to protect them.
Make sure your fire will not pass under a power line.
Be proactive and call the fire department immediately if
your fire appears to be getting out of control.
If a hydro pole is down, stay clear of the area. Fallen
poles and downed power lines are extremely dangerous. Do
not touch or attempt to move these lines. Call Manitoba Hydro
immediately.
As a landowner, you are responsible for damage caused by
your fire and may be held liable for the replacement or repair
of utility poles. Keep a close eye on your fire this season to
prevent power outages and repair costs.

Article courtesy of www.newscanada.com

20

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Tick Season Has Arrived!

It may still seem early in the season, but residents from around the region have been reporting
wood ticks found on themselves or their pets.

It may still seem early in the season, but residents from around the
region have been reporting wood
ticks found on themselves or their
pets.
Blacklegged ticks are most commonly found within and along the
edges of wooded or forest habitat
and in areas, with thick, woody
shrubs and other vegetation that
provide sufficient cover and typically high humidity. They are also
more likely to carry the agents that
cause tick-borne diseases like Lyme
disease, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis. The level of risk can vary within
each Lyme disease risk area, based
on whether the habitat is suitable for
blacklegged ticks.
In humans, Lyme disease can be
prevented by wearing long pants,
and long-sleeved shirts when in
the outdoors. Make your yard unfriendly to ticks by clearing wooded
areas, keeping the underbrush to a
minimum, and putting woodpiles
in areas with lots of sun. Use insect
repellent and be vigilant. If a tick
is found, remove it properly with
tweezers.
Pets are especially at risk for Lyme
disease. It can be prevented by vaccinating and by preventing tick bites.
There are also products available for
the prevention of bites.
If you suspect finding an infected
tick, place it into a sealed container
and take it you’re your local vet or
doctor’s office. Manitoba Health has
conducted passive tick surveillance
since 1995. Ticks found by veterinarians, doctors and the public are
sent to Cadham Provincial Laboratory for identification. Blacklegged
ticks are then submitted to the National Microbiology Laboratory,
where they are tested for the causative agents of four tick-borne diseases of public health importance.
Manitoba Health uses the information about where blacklegged ticks
are found, along with other information, to decide when and where
to send workers out into the field
to look for blacklegged ticks. The
Lyme disease risk areas are based
on the results of active surveillance.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

How to Open Your
Yard for Spring
With warmer days and spring
cleaning on our minds, people
across the country are gearing up
for a deep clean of their homes.
And while you’re getting into
every crevice in the house, don’t
forget the yard outside.
Remember that outdoor maintenance can be just as important
as indoor work for keeping your
home in top shape and ready for
living. A recent survey showed 91
per cent of Canadians spend up to
six hours per week on yard work
at their home. With the right kickoff strategy and tools, you can
minimize your work throughout
the year.
Wait until your lawn is dry.
Keep yard maintenance minimal while your grass is still wet.
Heavy foot traffic on a wet lawn
may damage the grass and its
roots, causing more work later if
you need to re-sod.
Clean up debris. During the
winter, a blanket of snow may
cover any remaining debris in
your yard, but now that the snow

has melted, it’s time to clean up
any leaves you may have missed,
branches that have fallen, and any
garbage in the area.
Prepare for your first cut of the
season. The grass may be fragile, so
it’s important to use sharp blades for
a clean cut and no tears. Ideally, cut
no more than a third of the height of
the grass to maintain healthy growth
and a lush lawn.
Aerate your lawn. From dealing with thatch and water pooling
to weed and insect resistance, starting the season off with aeration will
help keep your lawn healthy during
the spring and summer months. It’ll
also minimize any additional work
needed to address these issues.
Consider composting. This sustainable activity puts organic household waste and garden refuse like
grass cuttings, tree and hedge trimmings, leaves and withered flowers
to good use. Compost will create
a natural fertilizer containing the
valuable nutrients that you need for
a healthy garden and lawn.
Article courtesy of www.newscanada.com

Stihl’s Lithium-Ion mowers are lightweight and powerful for easy maneuverability to shorten the time spent on the task.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

May 2018

21

Tips for Refinishing Old Furniture

Bringing old furniture back to life can be a fun project that adds style to your home, but there are some hazards.

You’ve found the ideal chair at your neighbour’s garage sale — it just needs
a little TLC before it will look perfect in the bedroom. Bringing old furniture
back to life can be a fun project that adds style to your home, but there are
some hazards. As you pick up refinishing products, you’ll notice many have
hazard symbols on them.
Here are some tips to make sure you stay safe as you bring new life to your
old furniture:
Read the label. Follow all safety and usage instructions on the label, including how to dispose of any leftover products.
Work in an area with lots of ventilation. Refinish old furniture outdoors,
if weather permits. If you work inside, open the windows to make sure there
is plenty of ventilation.
Do not use sanders, heat guns or blowlamps. This can create dust and
fumes that contain lead.
Use a chemical paint stripper. Ideally, choose one with a paste that can
be applied with a brush. Paint strippers also contain substances that may be
harmful, so use them carefully.
Keep children and pregnant women away from the work area. This
will help ensure their safety.
Always wear safety glasses, gloves and a good-quality breathing mask.
The product label will provide more detailed information on personal safety
equipment you should use. These are essential to protect you and your family.
Store materials properly. Make sure that you store refinishing chemicals in a dry, cool place. Keep any hazardous material away from children’s
reach.
Dispose of refinishing waste materials properly. It can be very dangerous
to throw away rags, paint cans, and other materials that have been used for
refinishing furniture. Aside from starting a fire, they can also cause serious
damage to the environment.
Article courtesy of www.newscanada.com

Click Before You Dig, Drill or Excavate
At this time of year many Manitoba homeowners are itching to get outside to begin working in their yards. If
you’re among this group and if you’re planning any project that involves excavation – like digging postholes
for a fence, planting shrubs, installing a sprinkler system, or even putting in a new garden or flower bed – find
out the location of underground natural gas and electrical lines before you dig. This could save your life and
the lives of those around you.
Every year, homeowners and contractors in Manitoba damage buried utility lines on their property or job sites
resulting in costly repairs, injuries, lawsuits and tragically, even fatalities.
These accidents can be easily prevented with a free line location.
Manitoba Hydro is part of the ClickBeforeYouDigMB.com service provided by the Manitoba Common Ground
Alliance. A landowner can request natural gas and electrical line locates, along with many other utility locates,
with one online request or phone call. ClickBeforeYouDigMB.com is free, simple to use and available 24/7.
Once an online request is submitted and the locate is scheduled, Manitoba Hydro will mark underground natural gas and electrical lines free of charge, so work
can proceed safely. Since joining ClickBeforeYouDigMB in 2016, Manitoba Hydro has seen a
30% increase in locate requests.
Plan ahead
You must send a locate request to ClickBeforeYouDigMB.com at least three full work days
before you intend to begin any project that involves excavation or disturbing the ground
deeper than 15 cm. If you don’t have access to
a computer, you can call ClickBeforeYouDigMB
at 1-800-940-3447.

22

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Vita and Steinbach
Athletes Named Tri-Stars
Volunteer Opportunities:
We are looking for volunteers
with electrical, plumbing and receptionist background.
If you enjoy taking pictures we
would like to have a volunteer
who would take pictures of our
special events.
We are also looking for a few
active individuals who would be
interested in supervising some of
our rentals. You would be trained
and receive an honorarium for
this volunteer posting. All ages
are welcomed. Please call Lynda
at 204-320-4603 for more information.
Rentals:
We can accommodate Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings,
Showers, Meetings and Family
Gatherings amongst others. Call
Lynda 204-320-4600 for more
information and to book.
Events/Presentations:
All events/presentations are
open to everyone.
Pick Up + Walk – On Saturday,
May 5 come join Pat Porter Active Living Centre. Contact Lynda at 204-320-4603 by April 27.
Painting Class – On Friday, May
11 from 2 - 4 pm enjoy an afternoon of painting with instructor
Colleen Watchorn. Learn the basics of painting and create your
beautiful masterpiece. RSVP by
Friday, May 4. Call 204-3204600.
Out With Friends – On Friday,
May 18 at Assiniboine Downs.
Leave PPALC (car pool) at
5:30 pm. For all single men and
women. RSVP by Monday, May
14 and Wednesday, June 13 the
Goldeyes. Tickets approximately
$20 depending on size of group.
Car Pool. RSVP by Friday, May
18 (Hard Deadline) Call Reception 204-320-4600.
50s, 60s, 70s Dance – On Friday, May 25 from 7 – 11 pm with
live entertainment “The Cracked
Eggshell”. Advanced tickets $11
for members and $13for non
members. At the door $16.
Quick & Easy Cooking Class
- Tuesday, May 29 at 1 - 4 pm.
Lunch Ideas. $5 per person. Join
registered dieticians for an afternoon of cooking fun. Learn how
to make quick and easy lunches.
Call 204-320-4600 to register.
RSVP by Tuesday, May 22.
Regular Activities:
Make sure to check out our
Newsletter. Activities may be
cancelled or re-scheduled due to
other events, please check with
Centre. Please note that all Programs, Activities and Events at
the Centre are open to any age.
Our programs are aimed for Seniors however we welcome and
encourage you to come out and
see what our Centre has to offer. All Programs/Activities have
a fee of $2 for members, $4 for
non-members to participate unless otherwise stated.
Fitness Class: Tuesdays from
10:45 – 11:45 am.
Tai Chi /Exercises: Thursdays
from 1 – 2 pm. This class is open

to all ages-PPALC Class
Ho Model Railway Project:
Wednesdays 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Movie Time + Potluck: Starting at Noon. Bring a lunch dish to
share and stay to watch the movie! Next Movie is on Monday,
May 28 - “Gus”. Free Popcorn!
Floor Curling/Floor Shuffle:
Wednesdays 1:30 - 4 pm.
Advanced Pickleball: Mon,
Thurs and Fridays 9 – 11:30 am.
Tuesdays 9 – 10:30 am.
Beginners Pickleball: Mondays
1 – 3 pm.
Drop in Billiards: Monday
– Friday 9 am – 3 pm.
Cards: Monday – Canasta and
Wednesday – Cribbage. All card
games are from 1 – 4 pm.
Choir: Wednesdays 10–11:30 am.
Computer Classes: Wednesdays
from 9 am – 4 pm. One-on-one 1
hour appointments.
Old Time Country Jam: Wednesdays from 7 – 9 pm.
New Connection: 1st Thursday of each month 2 – 3:30 pm.
Need to make a new connection
(friends), new to the community
or new in your living arrangement, come join us. Call Lynda
204-320-4603
Free Programs:
Walking Program: Monday
– Friday from 8:30 – 9 am and 12
– 1 pm in our Auditorium. Free
to the public and any age is welcome! Enjoy Free Coffee or Tea
after!
Crafty Corner: Every Friday
from 2 - 3:30 pm. Bring your
craft (anything goes – knitting,
scrapbooking, wood work, etc)
and have some good conversation, coffee and share in learning
from each other.
Cozy Corner Coffee Time:
10:30 every morning for free coffee, tea, and a cookie. Meet new
people and staff in a friendly and
inviting atmosphere.
Buddy Up – This program is
designed to touch base daily
(short phone call) with a buddy
to act as a safety net. If you live
alone or spend part of your week
alone this would be a program for
you! If you are interested, please
contact Lynda 204-320-4603 for
more details.
Other Programs/Services Provided/Misc. Information:
Noon Meals: Available Monday
– Friday. Cost $6. Come join us
for lunch. Call Kitchen at 204320-4605 the day before or by 9
am that day to reserve your meal.
Foot Care Clinic: 3 Foot Care
Nurses are available different
days throughout the month. Call
Reception at 204-320-4600 to
book your appointment.
Beltone Hearing: Call 1-800661-2653.
For more information on our
programs, activities or volunteer
opportunities, drop by the Centre
Monday to Friday 8:30 am to
4:00 pm, call Lynda at 204-3204603 or call the reception desk
at 204-320-4600. Fax 204-3209098. Visit our website at patporteralc.com.

Hanna Hamm from Shevchenko School in
Vita.

This past month, two local athletes,
one from Vita and one from Steinbach
were named Powerland Rural High
School Tri-Star Athlete of the Week
for their stellar basketball skills while
representing their perspective schools
on the court.
On April 3, Hanna Hamm of the
Shevchenko Sabres basketball team
was named. She helped lead the Sabres
to 5 tournament wins this season and
a silver medal at the Provincial “A”
Basketball Championships, where she
was named a Provincial All-Star. Over
the season she averaged 15 points, 15
rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks.
According to Coach Penelope Hovorka-Alcock, “Hanna has shown to be
effective in the post position, especially with her great drives and outside the
paint shots.”
“Along with her basketball ability,
Hanna is a true leader who always
modeled a calm and positive attitude
for the team to follow,” said HovorkaAlcock. “As a coach, I feel honoured
to have had Hanna on the Sabre basketball team due to her determination
to become a more competitive and
strong player on the basketball court
while bringing a positive attitude to
the team.”

Ian Penner from Steinbach Christian High.

When not on the court, the Grade
12 student maintains a 75% academic average, while also participating in volleyball and track &
field.
On April 11, Ian Penner of the
Steinbach Christian Flames basketball team joined the Tri-Star roster
after the 5’9” point guard led the
Flames in scoring, averaging 20
points, 7 assists and 5 steals per
game. He helped his team earn a
spot at this year’s Provincial “AA”

Basketball Championships.
“Ian provided steady leadership on
and off the floor, making a big impact
on the floor, despite suffering through
a few injuries throughout the season.
Ian really stepped up for his team. Ian
is an excellent play maker, with the
ability to finish around the rim and
make the outside shot,” said Coach
Dewayne Penner.
In Grade 12, Penner maintains a
72% academic average, while also
participating in volleyball.

La Broqerie CDC Announces Spring Clean Up
From May 4 through May 12, community members in La Broquerie and
Marchand are encouraged to sign up
to clean a mile as part of the Tim Hortons Team Up to Clean Up/Équipé
pour Nettoyer.
The Community Development committee (CDC) is offering free cleanup
supplies will be provided and all volunteers will be celebrated at a wrapup barbeque on Saturday, May 12. All
registered volunteers will be eligible
for prize draws.
“As part of the May 4 kick-off, the
two schools, École St-Joachim and
Arborgate School, will Team-up as
well to clean up the Town of La Bro-

querie. That’s over 800 students
and staff pitching-in! Community
groups, businesses and residents
are invited to sign up to clean-up
the rest of the Municipality’s remaining approximate 200 miles of
side roads, highways and parks,”
said Farrel Rempel, resident and
co-organizer. “Last year saw a record amount of volunteers, over
1,100 totalling over 2 tons of waste.
The engagement is spreading.”
Tim Hortons Team Up to Clean
Up campaign aims to beautify the
community through the efforts of
thousands of volunteers picking up
litter in their neighbourhoods. “We

are thrilled to be partnering with the
very enthusiastic SDC La Broquerie
CDC to help bring Team Up to Clean
Up to the RM of La Broquerie,” said
Take Pride Winnipeg! Community
Engagement and Operations Manager, Colleen Kurlowich, Co. “The
more people coming out to help keep
our province litter-free, the better!”
For more details on how to register
or to pre-register, visit the Rona La
Broquerie Lumber or contact Farrel
at farrel@lablumber.com or 204-4245333. For more details on all cleanup
events across southern Manitoba,
please visit takepride.mb.ca.

Greatest Show Ever Presented in Steinbach
On April 18, the community was
treated to The Greatest Show Ever,
when this year’s Backyard Theatre
Company held their yearend performance at the SRSS Theatre.
Some of the skits included the
Cookie Crime Scene, Mission: Not
Impossible but still somewhat difficult, Please Read Instructions and Cry

Acting, It’s Not My Fault,
Vitaly the Trust Worthy Guy, Eight
Years, The Ransom Dilemma, Bob
is on the Job, The Winter of Our
Discontent and The Show Must Go
On.
Early bird registration is over, but
there is still time to register for the
program. Registration is now open

for Acting Out! For ages 5 – 8, Dramatic Discovery for ages 9 – 11, The
Actor’s Studio for ages 10 – 12, The
Audition for ages 12 - 17 and the new
Young Company for aged 17 and up
Performance Troupe.
To find out more info, contact Steinbach Arts Council at 204-346-1077.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

May 2018

23

Province to Investigate Driver Training
On the heels of a devastating
semi-trailer and team bus accident
in Saskatchewan, which claimed
the lives of 16 players, coaches and
support staff from the Humboldt
Broncos, the provincial government is looking into a standardized
system of training and certification
for commercial truck drivers.
Infrastructure Minister Ron
Schuler made the announcement
on April 26. He said the province’s
first priority is public safety on
roadways and that is why work
has started to consider how a stan-

dardized system could work in the
trucking industry,” Schuler said.
“This is something the trucking industry has asked for and we want
to work together in a collaborative
way to see how this would work in
Manitoba,” said Schuler.
He said work will be done through
Manitoba Infrastructure, Manitoba
Education and Training, and Manitoba Public Insurance.
A standardized system of training
would allow for a uniform standard
for all truck drivers across the province and would allow road safety to

be the number one priority in issuing licenses. Educators in the
province already provide training, approved by the province and
Manitoba Public Insurance, to the
current National Occupational
Standard.
However, there is no current requirement for new drivers to access this training. Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan have either
already changed their standards
or are in the process of working
and engaging with stakeholders
on upgrading to this standard.

Sprague Slated to Celebrate
50 Years of Basketball
In the middle of May, the community of Sprague will be celebrating
50 years of basketball in the community school with a special celebration.
The event is being hosted by the
Sprague and District Historical Museum, which is run by retired teacher
Doris Havorka. Havorka’s family
was instrumental in starting the program in the community. Fifty years
ago, the program started while her
husband served as the school principal, because there was very little for
the youth to do in Sprague.

Havorka hired the first head coach
in 1968 and since then, all four of
their daughters have been key players back in the 1980s and 1990s and
now their granddaughter has taken
up the game.
This legacy will be celebrated in
May 19, with a dinner and dance. A
special invitation has been issued to
former players, and coaches to come
reminisce, share stories and remembers the good times at Ross L. Gray
School.
As part of the celebratory event,
the Ross L. Gray School will be

open from 1 to 5 pm for tours,
and a basketball scrimmage from
2 - 4 pm.
Dinner is at 6, followed by a
community dance. Ticket prices
range from $20 for dinner, entertainment and dance, $15 for dinner and dance or $10 for the dance
only. Tickets are available at Carl
and Kays, Wild Hair and Tanning,
the Vassar Store and South Junction Coop or by calling Doris at
204-437-2210, Betty at 204-4372209, Melissa at 204-437-3290 or
Norman at 204-437-2535.

Vandals Fail to Sour
Annual Sugar Festival

Vandals entered the Cabane à Sucre and dumped sugar
water and other materials throughout the building.
Photo by Musée de Saint-Pierre-Jolys Muséum

Organizers of this year’s annual Sugaring Off Festival at the
St. Pierre-Jolys Cabane à Sucre are pleased with this year’s
event, despite starting off on a sour note.
On the morning of April 5, volunteers were called in for an
emergency cleanup after vandals entered the building and left a
huge mess.
St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP said that the suspects entered the building through an unlocked door and poured maple syrup all over
the floor, and on the furniture. Volunteers were called in to clean
up the site before students arrived for scheduled tours. Nothing
was reported missing, and RCMP continues to investigate.
The setback did not put a damper on the rest of the festivities
which took place on April 7 and 8. For a few days prior to the
event, over 800 students toured the grounds and participated in
special activities and then nearly 500 visitors per day attended
the festival over the weekend.
The two day festival celebrates the tradition of tapping Maple
tree sap to make syrup and maple butter. As part of the celebrations, visitors to the Cabane à Sucre were shown how to properly tap a Maple tree for the sweetness inside, then the dehydration process, and given the opportunity to sample the finished
product.
The weekend event schedule included maple taffy on snow, an
interpretive centre demonstrating the production of maple syrup,
horse wagon rides, museum tours, traditional French-Canadian
dining and local entertainment.

RCMP Nab Flasher
with Public Help

Between April 17 and April 19, Steinbach RCMP received several complaints of
a male indecently exposing himself in the
vicinity of the Steinbach Bethesda Hospital
area. Through witnesses and the public’s assistance, a 46-year-old male from Steinbach
was arrested and will be facing four counts
of Indecent Exposure.

Pre-Registration Day for Fall
Programs! Don’t miss your
chance to register for fall with
10% off !
- On Thursday, May 31 from 9
am – 8 pm. Register online steinbachartscouncil.ca, call Office
204-346-1077 or came down to
the centre.
- Arts4tots Preschool Program $25 off.
- Backyard Theatre, Summer Arts
Day Camps, visual arts, painting, cartooning, pottery, creative
wellness, languages, creative
cooking, dance and more.
Beginner Pilates - Try It! Short
and sweet. Join our lunch time
Pilates class beginning May 3
and running Thursdays from
12:10 -12:50 pm for six weeks,
for $66. This is perfect for working people and if you want to see
if Pilates is the solution to your
wellness!
New Acrylic Pour Party with
Arlene Enns. Try a new medium of art right here in Steinbach.
Make a beautiful and creative
piece of art by learning different
acrylic pouring techniques on
canvas. 2 Sessions for only $50
on Wednesdays, May 9 and May
16 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at The
Steinbach Arts Council.
2018 Summer in the City Headliners! Tickets on Sale May 1.
The SCU Mainstage is exploding
with talent.
Canadian country artist Terri
Clark is headlining the Friday
night concert. Terri is a 3-time
Juno Award winner and the 8time CCMA Entertainer of the
Year, crowned CCMA Female
Vocalist of the year five times.
She holds the honour of being
the only Canadian female artist
to be a member of the Grand Ole
Opry.
Saturday night classic rock
has an amazing double billing,
Honeymoon Suite and Winnipeg-based Harlequin! This show
will start earlier to give concertgoers a full experience with both
bands. Honeymoon Suite and
Harlequin are staples in Canadian rock touring North America.
Toronto-based band Manic
Drive is headlining at Sunday’s
Worship in the City’s free evening concert. Juno Award winning Manic Drive topped Billboard’s Christian Radio Charts
over ten times, and has an impressive touring career with
some of CCM’s top artists.
Summer Early Bird Registration - Summer Arts Day
Camps
Join the fun and creativity this
summer! We offer 7 camps infused with music, dance, drama,
visual arts, field trips, community
outings, recreation, swimming,
splash parks and more. Two Sep-

arate age groups for ages 5 - 8
and 9 – 12. Sign up by Friday
May 4 and receive 10% off.
Seven Exciting Themes:
Disney (July 2 - 6)
Under The Sea (July 9 - 13)
Olympic Sports (July 16 - 20)
Outer Space (July 23 - 27)
Woodlands Exploration
(July 30 - August 3)
Wacky Workshop
(August 7 - 10) 4 Day Camp
Marvel Superheroes
(August 13 - 17)
Calling All Volunteers!
Summer in the City is just
around the corner. We are looking for creative volunteers in
the Artist Tents– help the artists,
meet the public and have fun!
Interested? Call 204-346-1077.
KR Park Concerts in the Park
- Fresh air, Green Grass, and
Hometown
Entertainment.
Coming soon! KR Barkman
Concerts schedule for May and
June online. These are free concerts in KR Barkman Park on
Main Street, proudly sponsored
by Barkman Concrete Foundation. Visit steinbachartscouncil.
ca for schedule.
Arts4Tots Preschool Program
Why are we unique? The most
creative way to learn for ages
3 - 5 with specialists in dance,
music, drama, visual arts, culinary and more. Following our
creative calendar each month,
we have weeks full of fun, creativity, learning, field trips and
guests. Call us now to get registered for the fall. W start in
September.
The Backyard Theatre Company -We want you! Experience scripts, improv., character
building, perform on stage and
build your confidence. Take the
stage in a Christmas Showcase,
local festival and final production at the SRSS theatre. For
ages 5 - 16. Get signed up for
September.
New Young Company – Performance Troupe for Ages 17 +.
Get involved in the community
in a creative way.
Looking for Board Members:
If you are interested in living in
a great community, and value the
arts, please send in your resume
to info@steinbachartscouncil.
ca. We are looking for people
from the education, business
and creative young demographics to apply. Governance Board
meets once a month (policies,
strategic planning, and vision);
attend a minimum of 3 SAC
events per season.
Volunteers needed for Summer in the City Artist Tent
– fun and creativity guaranteed!

24

May 2018

Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Sea Cadets Dawson
to Celebrate
20 Years at Review
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps
Dawson in Lorette is getting ready for
their annual review ceremony. While
the review is normally a yearly event,
this year the group is showcasing two
decades of success.
Members of the 330 Royal Canadian
Sea Cadet Corps Dawson will parade in
their Annual Review ceremony on June
2 at the Heartland Church, in Landmark. The Reviewing Officer for this
event will be Brigadier-General D.B.
Cochrane, Commander of 2 Canada Air
Division.
All former staff and cadets of the
330 Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps
Dawson are invited to join.
During the event a demonstration of
skills is planned and organized by the
cadets themselves, including displays

showcasing their training over the
year and what they have experienced
at summer camps.
The annual review completes the local training for the Dawson cadets for
the year.
Applications for the new training
year are already available.
Sea Cadets are sponsored by the
Navy League of Canada and supported
in partnership by the Canadian Forces.
The program promotes citizenship,
physical fitness, teamwork, leadership and Canadian Heritage amongst
our youth. The program is open to all
youth ages 12 to 18. Enrollment and
uniforms are provided at no cost.
To RSVP for the review, or for the
upcoming year contact Jason at Jason.
palansky@cadets.gc.ca.

A&W Theft Inside Job
On March 24 Steinbach RCMP responded to a report of a robbery at the
local A&W. After conducting their investigation, RCMP concluded that there
was no robbery.
Two individuals, Reece Kirkpatrick
and Geoffrey Walls, gained access to
the business with the help of employee,
Morgan Wynn.

Reece Kirkpatrick was taken into
custody shortly after the discovery.
RCMP have issued an unendorsed
warrants for arrest for Morgan Wynn
and Geoffrey Walls. The two have yet
to be taken into custody.
All three have been charged with
Theft under $5,000 as well as other
offences.